A Christian Eriksen strike sealed Tottenham Hotspur’s first league win in five games against Mauricio Pochettino's former side Southampton.

A sweet strike from the Danish international outside the box was enough to give Mauricio Pochettino’s side all three points.

The game often promised more drama but neither team was clinical in the final third.

Southampton could have equalised with six minutes to play but Sadio Mane scuffed his shot wide from six yards out as Spurs survived a late Southampton onslaught.

It was an unwelcoming response from the travelling fans towards their former manager who received regular boos and taunts.

An early header from Jan Vertonghen was cleared off the line by Ryan Bertrand and symbolised a first half with plenty of hustle and bustle.

Despite the fast start from the home team, it was the visitors who started to assert themselves on the match and nearly went ahead after 20 minutes when good work from Mane finds Graziano Pelle but the forward and Morgan Schniederlain got in each other’s way and the ball trickled through to Hugo Lloris.

Erik Lamea looked lively throughout the match and surged through the Southampton midfield after 25 minutes before firing his shot towards the bottom corner which was palmed away by the diving Fraser Forster.

Spurs were forced in a change after half hour following an over-the-top challenge on Kyle Naughton by Southampton full-back Betrand which went unpunished.

The home side pressed on and nearly had the break though after 35 minutes when a rasping effort from Eriksen was saved unconvincingly by Forster who is relieved to see the ball trickle wide after he fails to hold the shot.

Tottenham had the lead shortly afterwards when good play from Emmanuel Adebayor found Necer Chadli in the box who teed up Eriksen to drill into the bottom left corner of the goal.

It was almost two before the break as Adebayor found Chadli through on goal but he could not find the net and his shot came back off of the post.

A contentious moment came after 52 minutes when Mane was shouldered off of the ball by Kaboul who appeared to be last man. Referee Mike Jones gave a yellow card but foul was arguable.

Spurs looked dangerous on the counter and Chadli almost doubled Pochettino side’s lead but his shot was well blocked by Betrand.

However the lilywhites were nearly the making of their own undoing when a sloppy clearance from Kaboul fell to Victor Wanyama on the edge of the box but his shot was well saved by Lloris. 63 minutes

Southampton missed a glaring chance to eqaulise with six minutes remaining as they piled on the pressure.

Winger Mane got on the end of a fine low cross from Betrand but got his shot horribly wrong from six yards out.