HEUNG-MIN Son’s sublime four-goal salvo ensured Saints’ losing beginning to the 2020-21 campaign continued.

The South Korean was the star of the show, latching on to four Harry Kane assists as Tottenham came from behind to thump Ralph Hasenhuttl’s men 5-2 at St Mary’s.

Kane himself then got in on the act with nine minutes left, as the hosts capitulated in the second half.

Danny Ings had put Saints ahead in their opening home Premier League fixture of the season and netted a penalty late on to reduce the arrears.

Saints boss Hasenhuttl made two changes from the side that suffered a 2-0 Carabao Cup defeat to Brentford last time out.

Youngster Nathan Tella dropped to the bench and Nathan Redmond was ruled out through injury.

That paved the way for Stuart Armstrong to return to action, after recovering from a quad injury picked up on international duty with Scotland.

Moussa Djenepo was also included in the hosts’ line-up as they went in search of their first victory of the campaign.

Spurs named former Saints skipper Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg in midfield for his return to St Mary’s – the Dane having joined Jose Mourinho’s men for £15million last month.

Former Saint Gareth Bale was not included in the visitors’ squad, having confirmed his loan switch from Real Madrid less than 24 hours previously.

The visitors thought they had the advantage after just three minutes but VAR came to the rescue for Saints.

After Son had raced down the left, his delivery was turned into a dangerous area by Matt Doherty, who had surged forward from right-back.

England skipper Harry Kane slotted past Alex McCarthy in the home goal – but Son was judged offside in the build-up by the video assistant.

In an action-packed start, Saints midfielder Oriol Romeu picked up an early caution for a strong challenge on former team-mate Hojbjerg.

Che Adams then must have thought he had scored for Saints with just 10 minutes on the clock.

A free-kick swung in by Ryan Bertrand fell to the Saints’ striker in the box, his rifled effort forced a top-drawer save by World Cup winner Hugo Lloris in the Spurs goal.

It was then Saints’ turn to have the ball in the net through England striker Ings.

After he raced on to a neat chipped pass from Adams, Lloris raced off his line in an attempt to clear. The ball was judged to have his Ings’s arm in the build-up to him rolling it into the net.

Some magic from Malian Djenepo then almost broke the deadlock. His quick feet put Doherty on his backside before pulling the ball back to Adams, who could not find the decisive touch.

Djenepo then fired at goal himself. After a Ward-Prowse free-kick was headed clear by Kane the winger’s fizzing strike clipped the upright and went out to safety.

At the other end, Kane had the ball in the net for a second time after tapping in Lucas Moura’s centre – but again the flag was raised for offside.

But it was Ings who eventually broke the deadlock in Saints’ favour on 32 minutes.

A precise ball from ex-Spurs man Kyle Walker-Peters was brilliantly controlled by the striker, before he buried the ball into the far corner past Lloris.

But despite being on the back foot for most of the opening period, Tottenham found a leveller in first-half stoppage time.

After Tanguy Ndombele won the ball in midfield, Kane picked out Son to slot home from an acute angle. And it was Son who struck again to put Spurs ahead two minutes into the second half. Kane again was the provider for the forward, who drilled past an outstretched McCarthy.

Hasenhuttl looked to the bench and switched Romeu, who was on a booking, with Will Smallbone.

But after chances fell to Adams and Armstrong for Saints to restore parity, Son stepped up to net his third on 64 minutes.

Once again set free by Kane, the South Korean sprung Saints’ high line and this time put the ball through the legs of McCarthy for 3-1.

Armstrong was replaced by Tella for Saints, who gathered a pass from Adams before dragging well wide of the far post.

Spurs made sure of the points with 17 minutes remaining. Kane burst down the right flank before delivering for Son once again to make it 4-1.

And having spent the afternoon turning provider, Kane tapped home from close range on 81 minutes after Erik Lamela had initially hit the post.

Ings added to his tally from the penalty spot late on after VAR again intervened to penalise Doherty for handball inside the Tottenham box.

Saints: McCarthy, Walker-Peters, Stephens, Bednarek, Bertrand, Djenepo, Ward-Prowse, Romeu, Armstrong (Tella, 69), Adams (Long, 80), Ings.

Unused subs: Vestergaard, Obafemi, Vokins, Forster (g/k).

Booked: Romeu, Ward-Prowse, Bertrand, Stephens.

Tottenham: Lloris, Doherty, Dier, Sanchez, Davies, Winks, N’Dombele (Lo Celso, h-t), Hojbjerg, Moura (Lamela, 61), Kane (Bergwijn, 84), Son.

Unused subs: Alderweireld, Sissoko, Aurier, Hart (g/k).

Booked: Doherty.

Referee: David Coote