Tottenham player ratings vs Southampton: Lloris superb

Tottenham bounced back from last weekend’s derby defeat with a 3-1 win against Southampton. Here is how the players rated under the Wembley floodlights.

It is no secret that Mauricio Pochettino has a soft spot for the side that gave him his chance in English football. There was plenty of joviality in the technical area between himself and stand-in Saints boss Kelvin Davies; however, no sentimentality was offered on the pitch as the hosts went ahead after just nine minutes.

Tottenham added another couple after the break but the game was not as one-sided as the score line may purport. The visitors clattered the woodwork on three occasions and witnessed Hugo Lloris perform some pretty spellbinding saves in the Spurs net.

In the end, new Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl, who watched on from the stands, saw his side get a well deserved goal; but it was Spurs who took the points and usurped both Arsenal and Chelsea back into third position.

Here is how the Tottenham players rated.

GK: Hugo Lloris – 9

Hugo all but planted a Gandalfian stick in the Wembley turf and roared ‘you shall not pass’ in the Southampton players’ faces.

The highlight-reel of saves began in the 25th minutes when his fingertips pushed a Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg thunderbolt onto the post. The Frenchman kept him out again in the 75th before flinging up a tentacle to spectacularly save Ward Prowse’s rebound.

Charlie Austin had a go a minute later but the World Cup winner got down sharply to push his shot wide. However, he was finally beaten as the striker gave him no chance in the 92nd minute.

It’s no secret that Hugo has made some questionable decisions this season (both on and off the field); but when he doesn’t have the time to think – ie. when it’s wellied at him from a couple of yard out – he’s arguably never been in better form.