Harry Kane has scored in each of his past six appearances against Saints, hitting eight goals during that run
Tottenham ended a bad week by beating Southampton in an action-packed encounter - despite being reduced to 10 men for an hour and a shocking blunder by keeper Hugo Lloris.
Having lost to Leicester before being beaten by League Two Colchester in the Carabao Cup, Spurs' spirits were lifted as £53.8m club record signing Tanguy Ndombele scored with a powerful deflected finish.
Serge Aurier, who had already been booked, was sent off in the 32nd minute for a foul on Ryan Bertrand after Spurs felt the ball had gone out of play just before.
In an enthralling match, Southampton were gifted an equaliser after Lloris was dispossessed inside his own six-yard area by Danny Ings following a back pass.
But Harry Kane then swept home what proved to be the winner after an assist by Christian Eriksen.
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Spurs captain Lloris went someway to redeeming himself for his howler with two excellent second-half saves.
He flung himself across his line to keep out James Ward-Prowse's free-kick before producing an acrobatic leap to block Maya Yoshida's header following a corner.
Relief for Spurs - but problems still exist
Having made a slow start to the season, this was a welcome victory for Mauricio Pochettino's side, who had started the day closer to the relegation zone than a Champions League spot.
After dropping 10 points from their previous six matches, they will be relieved to have returned to winning ways even if it was a far from convincing performance.
Lloris had been forced to save from Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg before France midfielder Ndombele lashed home his second goal since joining from Lyon in July.
Spurs' season has been anything but straightforward and, having developed a nasty habit of throwing away leads, they once again gifted their opponents a way back at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Spurs keeper Hugo Lloris reflects on his mistake that allowed Southampton to equalise through Danny Ings
Aurier's needless lunge on Bertrand as the Southampton player charged forward, resulting in a second yellow card for the Ivory Coast defender, lifted Southampton's hopes - and eight minutes later they were level.
Lloris, back in the side after missing the Leicester defeat to be with his wife as she gave birth, was embarrassed after losing possession inside his own six-yard area to Ings, who then managed to bundle the ball over the line.
Yet Tottenham managed to get themselves back in front, Kane finishing from 12 yards after a sweeping move involving the impressive Son Heung-min and Eriksen, whose pass allowed the England striker to score his 10th goal of the season for club and country.
Eriksen keeps cool to inspire Spurs
This was a big day for Eriksen, who started September by being linked with a move away from Tottenham before the European transfer deadline.
He ended it by marking his recall to Pochettino's Premier League starting line-up with a busy performance which he capped by providing the assist for the winning goal.
With his contract set to expire next summer, the Denmark midfielder continues to be linked with a move away after six years at the club.
Yet while Aurier was sent off and Lloris committed a horrible mistake, Eriksen kept a cool head as he played a significant part in helping put Tottenham's season back on track.
With the game goalless, his free-kick took a deflection and resulted in a chance for Kane, who slipped as he attempted to volley home from close range.
Saints fail to capitalise after Aurier dismissal
Southampton have found playing away from home a much more comfortable experience than performing at St Mary's this season.
They arrived in north London seeking a fifth straight league and cup away win - and for spells they looked like they might extend that run.
Despite losing Portugal defender Cedric Soares in the warm-up, which resulted in Jannik Vestergaard being promoted from the substitutes bench, they took the game to Spurs.
Without £15m striker Che Adams and Mali winger Moussa Djenepo, who had scored in the previous two league away wins, Southampton relied on Nathan Redmond's pace to cause problems.
He teed-up a chance for Hojbjerg, who tested Lloris, before Ndombele scored - the first goal Southampton had conceded on their travels for more than six hours.
Aurier's red card and Lloris' howler saw the momentum swing in Southampton's direction yet, after Kane had restored Tottenham's lead, the visitors found themselves frustrated by the goalkeeper as he kept out Ward-Prowse and Yoshida.
What's next?
German champions Bayern Munich are in town on Tuesday as Tottenham look for their first Champions League Group B win (20:00 BST), while Southampton have a full week to prepare for Chelsea's visit to St Mary's on Sunday, 6 October (14:00 BST).
More to follow.
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Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text
Line-ups
Tottenham
1Lloris
24AurierBooked at 31mins
4Alderweireld
5Vertonghen
3Rose
8WinksSubstituted forWanyamaat 90+3'minutes
17Sissoko
28NdombeleSubstituted forDierat 78'minutes
23Eriksen
7Son Heung-MinSubstituted forLamelaat 64'minutes
10Kane
Substitutes
11Lamela
12Wanyama
15Dier
20Alli
22Gazzaniga
27Lucas Moura
33Davies
Southampton
28Gunn
35BednarekBooked at 82mins
3YoshidaBooked at 68mins
4VestergaardSubstituted forArmstrongat 79'minutes
16Ward-Prowse
14Romeu
23Højbjerg
21Bertrand
19BoufalSubstituted forLongat 88'minutes
22Redmond
9IngsSubstituted forObafemiat 83'minutes
Substitutes
7Long
17Armstrong
20Obafemi
38Danso
41Lewis
43Valery
Referee:
Graham Scott
Attendance:
59,645
Match Stats
Home TeamTottenhamAway TeamSouthampton
Possession
Home41%
Away59%
Shots
Home9
Away14
Shots on Target
Home4
Away6
Corners
Home6
Away6
Fouls
Home5
Away16
Live Text
Posted at
Match ends, Tottenham Hotspur 2, Southampton 1.
Full TimePosted at 90'+5'
Second Half ends, Tottenham Hotspur 2, Southampton 1.
Posted at 90'+5'
Offside, Tottenham Hotspur. Eric Dier tries a through ball, but Harry Kane is caught offside.
Posted at 90'+4'
Foul by James Ward-Prowse (Southampton).
Posted at 90'+4'
Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick on the left wing.
SubstitutionPosted at 90'+3'
Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur. Victor Wanyama replaces Harry Winks.
SubstitutionPosted at 88'
Substitution, Southampton. Shane Long replaces Sofiane Boufal.
Posted at 87'
Attempt saved. Stuart Armstrong (Southampton) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Ryan Bertrand.
Posted at 87'
Attempt saved. Eric Dier (Tottenham Hotspur) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Christian Eriksen.
Posted at 86'
Foul by Oriol Romeu (Southampton).
Posted at 86'
Erik Lamela (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 84'
Attempt missed. Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur) left footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Erik Lamela.
Posted at 83'
Corner, Tottenham Hotspur. Conceded by Ryan Bertrand.
SubstitutionPosted at 83'
Substitution, Southampton. Michael Obafemi replaces Danny Ings.
BookingPosted at 82'
Jan Bednarek (Southampton) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Posted at 82'
Foul by Jan Bednarek (Southampton).
Posted at 82'
Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
SubstitutionPosted at 79'
Substitution, Southampton. Stuart Armstrong replaces Jannik Vestergaard.
SubstitutionPosted at 78'
Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur. Eric Dier replaces Tanguy Ndombele.
Posted at 77'
Corner, Tottenham Hotspur. Conceded by Ryan Bertrand.
Posted at 76'
Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Danny Rose.
Posted at 74'
Corner, Tottenham Hotspur. Conceded by Maya Yoshida.
Posted at 72'
Foul by Jan Bednarek (Southampton).
Posted at 72'
Erik Lamela (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick on the left wing.
BookingPosted at 68'
Maya Yoshida (Southampton) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Posted at 68'
Foul by Maya Yoshida (Southampton).
Posted at 68'
Tanguy Ndombele (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 67'
Foul by Pierre-Emile Højbjerg (Southampton).
Posted at 67'
Christian Eriksen (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
SubstitutionPosted at 64'
Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur. Erik Lamela replaces Son Heung-Min.
Posted at 63'
Attempt missed. Nathan Redmond (Southampton) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Danny Ings.
Posted at 62'
Attempt saved. Maya Yoshida (Southampton) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by James Ward-Prowse with a cross.
Posted at 62'
Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Harry Kane.
Posted at 61'
Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Moussa Sissoko.
Posted at 60'
Jannik Vestergaard (Southampton) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 60'
Foul by Moussa Sissoko (Tottenham Hotspur).
Posted at 57'
Attempt missed. Pierre-Emile Højbjerg (Southampton) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Ryan Bertrand with a cross following a corner.
Posted at 57'
Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Hugo Lloris.
Posted at 57'
Attempt saved. James Ward-Prowse (Southampton) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top right corner.
Posted at 55'
Sofiane Boufal (Southampton) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Source: bbc.com