Steven Davis double secures come-from-behind EPL win for Southampton over Tottenham
TOTTENHAM squandered a lead for the second time this week to lose to Southampton and jeopardise its hopes of a second-placed finish in the EPL.
TOTTENHAM squandered a lead for the second time this week to lose 2-1 to Southampton on Sunday, jeopardizing its attempt to finish in second place in the English Premier League.
Steven Davis scored either side of halftime, after Son Heung-min put Spurs ahead in the 16th minute, to lift Southampton into sixth place and boost the team’s chances of qualifying for next season’s Europa League.
Spurs’ title hopes ended on Monday after throwing away a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 at Chelsea.
They are second with one game left - at Newcastle next weekend - and can still be overtaken by Arsenal, which is two points adrift in third. Spurs have a superior goal difference by +13.
Southampton moved above West Ham and is three points behind Manchester United.
Davis squeezed in the winner from the edge of the penalty area in the 72nd minute, soon after a drinks break for the heat, after exchanging passes with Dusan Tadic.
The same players combined for the equalizer in the 31st, with Tadic reaching the byline and crossing for Davis to clip a low finish past Huge Lloris from close range.
Davis had only scored two goals all season before the game.
“We have matched last season’s pointslly,” Davis, the Northern Ireland midfielder, said.
“Who knows where one more win will take us.”
Tottenham has now gone three games without a win since thrashing Stoke 4-0 away, seemingly setting Mauricio Pochettino’s side up for a tilt at a first Premier League title. That is in Leicester’s hands now, though.
Son scored when he ran onto Erik Lamela’s reverse pass, rounded the goalkeeper and defender Jose Fonte before tapping into an empty net.
Harry Kane had a close-range shot saved in first-half injury time that would have put Tottenham back in front.
“We tried as much as we could,” Spurs playmaker Christian Eriksen said.
“It’s been a long season and this defeatsn’t because of Monday. The last few games we haven’t managed to keep it going.”
Originally published as Steven Davis double secures come-from-behind EPL win for Southampton over Tottenham