Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 Southampton

Tottenham playmaker Christian Eriksen (left) rifles in a shot to put his side in front against Southampton

• Christian Eriksen scores second goal of season

• Mane misses glorious Southampton chance

• Tottenham's first league win since 24 August

• Southampton suffer second league loss of season

Tottenham beat Southampton to end a run of four league games without a victory and give manager Mauricio Pochettino a win against his former club.

The home side went in front when Christian Eriksen latched on to a Nacer Chadli lay-off and arrowed in a shot.

Chadli almost added to the lead only for his shot to come back off the post.

Southampton increased the urgency in search of an equaliser but saw Sadio Mane fail to convert a Ryan Bertrand cross when he shot wide from six yards.

The visitors had also gone close when midfielder Victor Wanyama had a shot excellently saved by Hugo Lloris.

The defeat ended Southampton's run of six straight wins in all competitions at the hands of the man who led them to an impressive eighth last season, although they remain in the Premier League's top four.

For Pochettino, the win not only eased the strain on him as Spurs moved up to sixth in the Premier League, but provided evidence his players are coming to terms with his coaching methods.

He had instilled a high-energy and high-pressing style of play as he impressed during his tenure at Southampton, although the Argentine had struggled to implement a similar style at White Hart Lane.

However, against Southampton there was a desire and application from the home side with signs of progress.

Tottenham went close early on when a Jan Vertonghen header was cleared off the line by Bertrand, and Erik Lamela and Eriksen had long-range efforts saved before the Spurs pressure told.

Emmanuel Adebayor cut in from the right and passed to Chadli, who laid the ball off to Eriksen to drill in a low shot from the edge of the area.

It was only the fifth goal Southampton had conceded so far this season and they would have gone 2-0 down but for the woodwork. Chadli raced clear at the end of a Spurs counter-attack but his angled shot came back off the post.

The visitors may have started the season strongly but struggled to create chances. They did go close when a low Graziano Pelle cross found Mane at the far post but his shot was deflected wide by Kyle Naughton.

The full-back was forced off later after he was caught just above the ankle by a reckless Bertrand boot as the two challenged for a tackle.

Tottenham had kept the visitors at arm's length for most of the game and, after Wanyama's shot was saved and Mane's late effort, they secured their third league win of the campaign.

Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino:

"It was an important win. It was a very tough game. Southampton have unbelievable players.

"I arrived three months ago - it is . It is always difficult to put together a different philosophy in such a short time. It is important to build something for the long term.

"All the players did a great job and did their best. We deserved the three points."

Southampton manager Ronald Koeman:

"It was difficult. We knew before the game that they are a strong team.

"They had good moments but in the second half, little-by-little, we had some dominance. It is all about scoring goals and they did that better than us.

"Maybe that [Sadio Mane's miss] was the biggest chance of the game. It was great cross from Ryan Bertrand and he had to score but was unlucky. I am happy with the performance."

Mauricio Pochettino coached Southampton for 54 Premier League games with 19 wins, 18 draws and 17 losses

Christian Eriksen (three) has scored more Premier League goals against Southampton than any other team

Tottenham right-back Kyle Naughton went off injured after 32 minutes following a challenge with Ryan Bertrand

Sadio Mane (right) missed Southampton's best chance as his side failed to score for the first time in seven games