The Wales winger twice completed well within the first half however was denied the possibility at a hat-trick after profitable a 94th-minute penalty, with substitute Mathys Tel changing from the spot as an alternative.
Mateus Fernandes’ had halved the deficit for Saints with a Ninetieth-minute strike after Spurs sat again for many of the second half, presumably to attempt to preserve power for Thursday’s crunch Europa League tie towards Eintracht Frankfurt.
Lucas Bergvall additionally had a objective disallowed within the first half for a fractional offside towards Cristian Romero.
Listed below are three Spurs speaking factors from the match…
Spurs miss likelihood to placed on a present
Spurs averted a harmful slip-up however this was not a efficiency to convey again the feel-good issue, nor restore confidence in Ange Postecoglou’s floundering undertaking.
Nonetheless, Spurs missed an opportunity to placed on a present towards Saints and have been a little bit fortunate to not be punished after a second half performed totally in first gear.
After Johnson’s double put Spurs firmly in management, they barely had a contact in Saints’ field after the break and had goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario to thank for sharp stops from Kamaldeen Sulemana and Yukinari Sugawara earlier than Fernandes scored.
It was an uninspiring exhibiting within the circumstances, resulting in a surprisingly subdued and stressed environment in north London.
That stated, all that mattered for Spurs this weekend was stopping the rot and getting by means of Saints’ go to with no accidents, which they did.
Their judgement day will come on Thursday and within the subsequent decider in Germany per week later.
Robust crew should go once more on Thursday
Postecoglou has confronted criticism within the latest previous for rotating his aspect, together with for the house defeat to Manchester Metropolis, which got here per week earlier than Europa League last-16 first leg towards AZ Alkmaar. So there’s a case that it might be unfair to criticise him for a scarcity of rotation towards Saints.
Nonetheless, a look at Postecoglou’s line-up urged he may need been extra involved by avoiding a slip up on this recreation — and guaranteeing no additional probabilities for annoyed followers to vent in his path after what occurred at Stamford Bridge on Thursday — than getting ready for his or her season-defining quarter-final first leg in Europe.
The top coach made simply three adjustments from the 1-0 defeat at Chelsea, with Pedro Porro, Ben Davies and Johnson coming in for Future Udogie, Micky van de Ven and Wilson Odobert.
James Maddison, who has very not often began two video games in per week this season, saved his place and so too do did ageing captain Heung-min Son, who has tended to look jaded after fast turnarounds.
Postecoglou’s choice was vindicated by a strong end result, as Spurs averted a nightmare slip-up, however will it come at a price?
Van de Ven will certainly return to the aspect towards Frankfurt however the majority of the XI towards Saints can be taking part in a 3rd recreation in seven days towards the German aspect.
Given Southampton’s stage, maybe Postecoglou may have saved extra gamers contemporary for the most important recreation of his Spurs tenure?
On the double: Brennan Johnson scored twice for Tottenham towards Southampton
REUTERS
Odobert vs Johnson could also be Postecoglou’s large name
Johnson’s well-taken double doubtlessly offers Postecoglou a tough name for Frankfurt.
The Wales winger has gone off the boil this yr, and twice been hooked at half-time in latest matches (towards Bournemouth and Fulham), whereas Odobert confirmed his place within the pecking order with a double within the decisive second-leg win over AZ final month.
However, with Odobert rested, Johnson put this recreation to mattress by the interval with two canny finishes to take him to double figures for Premier League objectives this season, earlier than profitable the late penalty by cannily drawing a foul from Welington.
It was barely baffling that Tel felt entitled to disclaim Johnson the possibility at a hat-trick from the spot, however perhaps Postecoglou has established a transparent pecking order of penalty takers.
The top coach now faces a alternative between Johnson and Odobert towards Frankfurt
Johnson is arguably a much less thrilling participant however extra of a objective menace (although his solely objectives this yr have come towards Tamworth, Ipswich and now Saints, suggesting he’s much less efficient towards good opponents), whereas Odobert, who changed Son within the 56th-minute right here, is thrilling however uncooked.
