Ché Adams seals it for Southampton after Tottenham twice lose their lead

Antonio Conte could hear the knock of opportunity. The Tottenham manager has been effective in beating the teams that his club would like and expect to beat, devouring the lower-hanging fruit, and Southampton had been cast as such – fairly or otherwise.

With West Ham struggling to find their groove and Manchester United in profligate mood, the path towards a Champions League finish has been lit. And yet Spurs fluffed their lines. They would get nothing, which was what they deserved, in the first serious misstep of Conte’s Premier League tenure.

There was a point when Spurs looked as though they might get away with it. With Armando Broja lying stricken, having felt Emerson Royal jump all over him, Spurs moved forward through Harry Winks and Harry Kane and, when Lucas Moura crossed low, there was Son Heung-min to put them 2-1 up.

Southampton refused to entertain the hard luck story. They had pummelled Spurs during the first-half, blowing a hatful of chances, Broja’s goal for 1-1 their only reward. Now they picked themselves up off the canvas again.

The goals were provided by James Ward-Prowse with trademark whipped crosses and, with Spurs horribly static, failing to pick the runners, Mohammed Elyounoussi headed the equaliser and, moments later, Che Adams planted home the winner.

There would almost be a late twist. Steven Bergwijn, whose stoppage-time goals had brought the outlandish comeback win at Leicester, had again entered as a substitute and again he found the net with the 90 minutes up, turning home after Cristian Romero had headed back Kane’s cross. VAR would spot that he was offside and Southampton could celebrate.

Spurs had been frustrated in the league game at St Mary’s in late December, held to a 1-1 draw