Ralph Hasenhüttl must have felt a sense of déja vu when, after 10 minutes, Jannik Vestergaard was given a straight red card. It was this fixture last season, also played under the lights on a Friday, that brought Leicester’s infamous record-breaking 9-0 win but that night it was Ryan Bertrand’s sending-off that proved the catalyst for Southampton’s capitulation. They again had to strap in but they did not panic, even if the red card rankled. “The official explanation was it was a clear denial of a goalscoring opportunity,” said Hasenhüttl, who confirmed Southampton would appeal the decision. “This explanation is simply wrong. I’m not delighted by the red card decision but delighted by the performance of my fighting side.”
Brendan Rodgers high-flying visitors were unable to take full advantage of the early dismissal and the result moves them eight points clear of fifth-paced West Ham in the race for European football, while the dogged hosts extended their advantage over the relegation zone to 10 points.
Leicester, who defeated their hosts 1-0 in an FA Cup semi-final less than a fortnight ago, were back at St Mary’s for the first time since running riot in a record-breaking 9-0 success in October 2019.
Southampton were seeking a modicum of revenge for those painful recent losses but were without injured top scorer Danny Ings, who may miss the remainder of the season with a hamstring issue suffered in last week’s loss at Tottenham.
But if Mourinhoâs demise was driven, in part, by his teamâs inability to hold on to a lead â they surrendered 20 points from winning positions â Mason got his tenure up and running with a spirited comeback. It featured a lovely equaliser from Gareth Bale, who was out of his Mourinho doghouse and in the Premier League starting lineup for the first time since mid-March and, in stoppage time, a Son Heung-min winner from the penalty spot.
Initially the referee, David Coote, had awarded a free-kick on the edge of the area after the Southampton substitute Moussa Djenepo jumped into a reckless challenge on Sergio Reguilón following a corner. But VAR would show the contact was just inside the box and, in the absence of the injured Harry Kane, Son completed the dream start for Mason.
Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Southampton: Bale and Son score as Spurs fight back
By Steve SutcliffeBBC Sport
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Gareth Bale has scored in all three of his Premier League appearances against Southampton
Son Heung-min s late penalty capped a Tottenham fightback against Southampton that handed interim head coach Ryan Mason victory in his first match in charge.
Former Spurs midfielder Mason, the Premier League s youngest head coach at the age of 29, succeeded Jose Mourinho after the Portuguese was sacked on Monday.
He made a winning start to his tenure after Gareth Bale curled in a superb equaliser and then a late VAR intervention saw Son convert after a Moussa Djenepo foul on Harry Winks was shown to be just inside the penalty area.
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