Five things we learned from Tottenham v Southampton

Here are five things we learned from the game.

1. Cedric’s absence puzzles Ralph Hasenhuttl:

Cedric had to be taken out of the starting XI ahead of kick-off

Although the initial line was that Cedric was injured during the warm-up before yesterday’s game, it transpired that he told the Saints boss he couldn’t play after he got off the team coach.

Hasenhuttl was full of praise for the defender during the pre-match press conference, suggesting he had left his ego at the door.

Due to Cedric ruling himself out of action, Saints’ manager was forced to change his tactics and formation ahead of kick-off which would have been far from ideal for the Austrian.

2. Saints wasted a glorious opportunity:

Angus Gunn kicks the ball away in anger after Harry Kane restored Spurs' lead

Hasenhuttl’s side should have left White Hart Lane with three points and should be bitterly disappointed that they didn’t.

They played for over an hour with an extra man on the pitch but somehow managed to throw the game away by conceding just after they had equalised through Ings.

Saints’ lack of a clinical edge in the Premier League in recent weeks should be high on Hasenhuttl’s list of priorities to fix.

3. Che Adams was given a break:

Che Adams missed his first match of the season on Saturday

When the Saints team was announced, striker Adams was its most noticeable absentee.

Up until yesterday’s defeat at White Hart Lane he had played in every game this season, although the 23-year-old is yet to register his first goal.

Because of the fact Adams hadn’t missed a match, Hasenhuttl decided to leave the target man at home to allow him to recover ahead of next Sunday’s tie with Chelsea.

4. Ings justified his place in the starting XI:

Danny Ings celebrates his goal at White Hart Lane

Ings followed his two goals against Pompey up with another finish against Spurs.

Although his strikes against Saints’ fierce rivals were pleasing on the eye, it was an incredible piece of opportunism, coupled with a shocking error, that saw him score at the Lane.

Spurs goalkeeper Hugo Lloris took longer than he needed on the ball which allowed Ings to nick it off him and prod it home from no more than a yard out.

5. The curious case of Yan Valery:

Yan Valery in action against Burnley on the opening day of the season

When Cedric ruled himself out of the match with Tottenham, the logical choice would have been to play Valery instead.

But Hasenhuttl decided against doing that as he swapped the Portuguese international for Jannik Vestergaard and deployed James Ward-Prowse at right-wing back.

Given that Valery was once seen as the poster boy for the Saints manager’s development of youngsters, it’s proving to be a difficult time for him.

His last appearance came over a month ago during the 2-0 win away to Brighton on 24 August.