Emmanuel Adebayor scored two goals as Tottenham Hotspur secured a narrow 3-2 victory away to Southampton in the Premier League this afternoon.
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The visitors, who slumped to a 5-0 defeat to Liverpool at White Hart Lane last weekend, which proved to be Andre Villas-Boas's last fixture in charge, found the much-needed tonic as Spurs climb to seventh in the standings under the stewardship of caretaker boss Tim Sherwood.
The Saints took a 13th-minute lead through Adam Lallana, who received the ball on the edge of the area before firing past Hugo Lloris.
Spurs began to develop a foothold in the clash and Adebayor restored parity midway through the half, volleying Roberto Soldado's cross past Paulo Gazzaniga from close range.
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Sherwood's men began the second half much the better of the two sides and it was not long before the visitors had the lead again, with defender Jos Hooiveld tapping the ball past his own goalkeeper after Christian Eriksen's teasing cross.
Mauricio Pochettino's men responded well to going behind and were level within five minutes.
Lallana beat the offside trap before playing a reverse pass to Rickie Lambert, who tapped into an empty net after Lloris had raced off his line.
However, the pendulum swung back in favour of Tottenham, as Adebayor secured his second of the afternoon shortly after, thumping past Gazzaniga.
Soldado spurned two opportunities to provide daylight in the scoreline, first by volleying wide of Gazzaniga's post from a good position and then firing into the side-netting from a tight angle.
The misses would not prove decisive as the North London outfit held on for victory.
Shane Callaghan
