Tottenham Hotspur Drop Premier League Points Again in Southampton Defeat

Tottenham Hotspur's final home game of the season was marked by an uncharacteristically meek display as Southampton recovered from Heung Min-Son's early goal to take all three points back to the south coast. 

Mauricio Pochettino's men have consistently outworked and outfought their opposition in an excellent season, but the typical hallmarks of those performances were notable by their absence against Saints. 

Perhaps inspired by West Bromwich Albion's comparable performance at White Hart Lane two weeks ago, Southampton were conservative but countered intelligently and were far more efficient than their wasteful hosts. 

Possession is not an end in itself, but a means to the end of scoring goals and winning games. Spurs proved that maxim by holding the ball for 70 percent of the match but scoring only one, rather fortunate, goal. 

"

xG map for Tottenham - Southampton. Poor transition defense opened Spurs up for this, but they should have won. pic.twitter.com/JPjCVg9vaV

— Michael Caley (@MC_of_A) May 8, 2016"

Tottenham probably did enough to win this match but simply doing enough is not sufficient for their lofty ambitions. 

With more to play for than the visitors, Spurs should have been able to put the result beyond doubt, but to some degree, the lethargy of the performance can be excused. Their young squad are undoubtedly feeling emotional and mental fatigue after their title challenge flamed out in the "Battle of Stamford Bridge." 

Those players must recognise that the season is not yet over, and the club's highest finish since 1963 remains in play. Tottenham need only a point to secure second place in next week's season finale away to Newcastle United, but they'll be lucky to get it if they produce another such uninspired showing. 

Any team in Europe would miss the energy and creative chaos that Dele Alli provides, and his suspension has hurt Spurs in both of their last two games. Mousa Dembele's ban appears even more costly. 

"

We lost 0 games this season with Dembele in midfield. We lost 5 games without him in midfield. Our summer priority is clear: Robot Dembele

— Poch McGuirk (@GaryRootbeer) May 8, 2016"

Dembele, 28, inflates the value of the players around him. As safe as the Bank of England on the ball, he lets his team-mates move into more advanced positions and play with greater freedom. He is also an underrated ball-winner. 

As the second-oldest outfield player at the club, he also brings experience and a hugely significant cool head. For all his ability, Ryan Mason is a poor substitute.  

Spurs' capitulation from a winning position was perhaps more unexpected than it should have been. 

"

Spurs have lost more points when leading (20) and won more points when trailing (19) than any #BPL side this season pic.twitter.com/GZ2ATBsP5O

— Premier League (@premierleague) May 8, 2016"

Pochettino's team has produced the best and most consistent football of any in the division, but to have surrendered 20 points from winning positions in a single season is bordering on inexcusable. Had they managed to hold onto just half of those points, they would sit at the head of the Premier League table leading Leicester City on goal difference. 

Spurs are proving surprisingly brittle in the closing weeks of the season, and that betrays how much work Pochettino has yet to do. The Argentinian has built an excellent team; the youngest and most exciting in the division, but there are critical flaws. 

The over-reliance on Dembele's influence in midfield demonstrates how relatively thin the squad still is. 

The first priority must be defeating Newcastle, regardless of their desperation to avoid relegation, and securing second place. Beyond that immediate goal, Tottenham must learn how to finish games. 

Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

Their success this season has redrawn objectives for the next campaign, but there can be little expectation of further improvement without necessary evolution. 

The naivete that has defined too many of their matches must be ironed out lest a reinvigorated Chelsea or Manchester City march to the title next season.

Newcastle and Leicester were the only two visiting teams to win at White Hart Lane before Southampton's arrival. Each of those sides were outplayed but emerged with the points. Fortune played a part in their victories, but each took the chances that were presented to them. 

Spurs have been profligate in these matches, and they must learn that lesson before next season.