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For at least one week, the #narrative has been silenced. Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton played as chaotic of a game as everyone expected, with Maurico Pochettino's current team winning out over his former team, 1-0 at White Hart Lane.
The match started at a breakneck pace, with chances on both ends. Jan Vertonghen had a header cleared off the line in the 3rd minute and Southampton almost scored six minutes after that, with Kyle Naughton doing well to recover and block a shot from Sadio Mane after missing a clearance. Erik Lamela also went close, forcing a save out of Fraser Forster with a 26th minute drive.
Spurs experienced a bit of a setback on the half-hour mark when Kyle Naughton picked up an injury and was unable to continue. He tried to play on after turning over his right ankle badly in a challenge with Ryan Bertrand, but only lasted a minute, and was replaced by Eric Dier.
As the first half wore on, Southampton looked a bit less dangerous and Spurs came closer to scoring. Christian Eriksen had an effort blocked away in the 36th minute, and would go on to score four minutes later. Off a layoff from Nacer Chadli, Eriksen lined up an impressive near post finish from 20 yards to beat the Southampton goalkeeper.
Tottenham just about doubled their lead through a great counter in the 43rd minute, but Chadli struck the post off a feed from Emmanuel Adebayor.
The second half started just as wide open as the first, with solid half-chances on both ends. Younes Kaboul picked up a controversial yellow card in the 53rd minute that probably should have been either a no-call or a straight red, while Spurs nearly scored off a fumble by Forster in the 61st minute.
Southampton should have been level in the 85th minute, if not for a very poor miss. Ryan Bertrand set Mane up with an excellent cross, but the Saints' winger couldn't finish from point-blank range.
Despite all kinds of late scares and a lot of possession in the attacking half for the Saints late in the game, Spurs were able to hang on to their one-goal lead, and head into international break back in the top half of the Premier League table.