Tottenham held to draw

London : Tottenham Hotspur missed the chance to go above Liverpool in the Premier League table as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Southampton at St Mary’s.

Saints took the lead early in the first half via a Davinson Sanchez own goal, only for Harry Kane to equalise three minute later with his 99th Premier League goal.

Kane was unable to bring up his century, and Spurs were denied the opportunity to move into the top four on goal difference ahead of Liverpool’s trip to Swansea on Monday night. Southampton, meanwhile, remain in the relegation zone. Mauricio Pellegrino’s side, without a win in 10 league games, started brightly with Ryan Bertrand getting the better of Serge Aurier down the right flank. The England left-back fired a low ball across the face of goal on 15 minutes which the sliding Sanchez turned past Michel Vorm, in the Spurs goal for the ill Hugo Lloris, and in off the near post.

The home crowd had barely finished celebrating a goal that temporarily lifted them out of the bottom three, however, before they saw the visitors equalise from a corner.

Kane, beginning the game two goals shy of his Premier League century, lost marker Jack Stephens all too easily and had a free run to head home the set piece for his fifth goal in his three games.

Tottenham were also missing Christian Eriksen who, like Lloris, was ruled out with illness, and Mauricio Pochettino’s side were unable to take control of the game. Indeed, it was Southampton who were creating the clearer chances.