Southampton without a win in six heading into Christmas after 2-0 defeat to Tottenham at St Mary's

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The defeat, a fifth in the last six, punctured only by a disappointing home draw to bottom of the table Aston Villa, was inflicted by two goals in the space of just three minutes late in the first half.

Harry Kane and Delle Alli were the grateful recipients of some lacklustre Saints defending as Mauricio Pochettino kept his unbeaten run against his former club going.

Saints now really need a win when they return to action on Boxing Day, but it will be tough as they host title contenders Arsenal.

There was a fairly open start to the game with both sides keen to get on the front foot and attack.

It was Saints who threatened first with Steven Davis chipping a wonderful pass into the path of Sadio Mane whose half volley back across goal from a tight angle was deflected over by Toby Alderweireld.

Hugo Lloris was forced into a fantastic save on eight minutes to prevent Mane from giving Saints the lead.

Ryan Bertrand’s forceful clearing header down the left found Dusan Tadic, who squared to Mane just inside the area. He guided a low first time shot on target but Lloris did brilliantly to get down to his right to make the stop.

Up the other end Tottenham tried to make something happen with Christian Eriksen flashing a driven effort across goal and wide of the far post.

Mane was causing Spurs plenty of problems with Koeman employing him in a central role. He forced Jan Vertonghen into a superb sliding tackle to block his shot on 25 minutes as Saints continued to slightly edge the match.

Alderweireld tried an audacious looping header from Kyle Walker’s right wing cross but from the edge of the area it was never likely to threaten Paulo Gazzaniga and duly went over the bar.

Gazzaniga was forced into action for the first time on 36 minutes as Harry Kane was played into the area by a neat one-two.

The Spurs striker tried a shot from a fairly tight angle on the right which was on target but Gazzaniga got down to block at his near post and was grateful there was nobody around to benefit as it bounced off his body.

There was nothing he could do though as Spurs took the lead on 40 minutes.

Saints lost the ball in an attacking position and moments later Jose Fonte was just beaten to it by Delle Alli, though took out the man on the halfway line for which he was later booked, and it set Kane away.

Saints were all over the place as the striker charged at them, with Cedric Soares and Virgil van Dijk missing chances to stop him.

Soon he was through one-on-one with the exposed Gazzaniga, and Kane opened up his body to finish into the far corner for 1-0.

It got even worse as Spurs doubled their lead three minutes later, with some more awful play from Saints.

Again Saints gave the ball away on the attack and were badly caught out as Spurs got away with a four on five attack.

Walker pushed on down the right and crossed low between goalkeeper and defence with Alli getting in behind Cedric at the far post to have the time to control and finish low past Gazzaniga from inside the six yard box and it was 2-0.

Saints really needed a goal early in the second period to try and get themselves a way back into the game.

Graziano Pelle tried to make it happen nine minutes after the restart with a curling right footed effort from just outside the area but Lloris was able to collect it.

The truth was though that Spurs were looking pretty comfortable on the whole, knowing they didn’t need to over commit going forward.

Koeman made a double change top try and make something happen on 64 minutes with Shane Long and Juanmi replacing Steven Davis and Tadic.

Long went to play up front with Pelle with Mane moving to the right wing and Juanmi to the left in an attacking 4-4-2 formation.

After Spurs appealed in vain that Clasie had brought down Erik Lamela when he was bursting towards goal, Alli went in the book for a very late challenge on Juanmi.

The major problem for Saints was that throughout the second period they had not looked at all like scoring, and time was quickly running away.

Saints made their final substitution on 78 minutes with James Ward-Prowse coming on for Clasie. Spurs responded with Tom Carroll replacing Alli.

Tottenham seemed in total control and Eriksen tried to wrap up the three points with a low drive from the edge of the box but it was straight at Gazzaniga.

The keeper was grateful for another routine save when Spurs threatened again with Lamela getting to the right by-line and cutting back to Carroll who could only make a weak contact when it seemed he might score.

Spurs ran down the clock with Nacer Chadli coming on for Eriksen and Son Heung-Min replacing Kane.

Saints nearly pulled one back in stoppage time as Pelle missed a cross from the left allowing the ball to run to Ward-Prowse but his first time side footed finish from ten yards out was superbly saved down to his left by Lloris as Spurs confirmed the win.