Harry Kane departed the pitch late on after injuring himself while netting an offside strike for Tottenham. Getty
Tottenham Hotspur stuttered in their pursuit of the Premier League top four on Wednesday as they opened the new year with a 1-0 away defeat against Southampton, with captain Harry Kane forced to limp off late in the game due to an injury.
The hosts took the lead through in-form Danny Ings on 17 minutes when the striker flicked the ball over Toby Alderweireld and finished smartly past Paulo Gazzaniga for his 13th league goal of the season.
A VAR check on 48 minutes ensured Southampton were not awarded a penalty after the ball struck Alderweireld's hand in the visitors' box, and another check on 72 minutes supported the on-pitch officials' decision to rule Kane offside after the striker found the net for Spurs.
To make matters worse for the north London side, Kane injured himself in the process and was forced off while clutching his hamstring, then coach Jose Mourinho was given a yellow card after seemingly confronting members of Southampton's coaching staff.
The defeat saw Spurs remain on 30 points, six behind fourth-placed Chelsea.
Source: espn.co.uk