CHE ADAMS’S headed winner ensured Saints sealed a dramatic three points after a late rally earned them a 3-2 victory at Tottenham.

An own-goal from Jan Bednarek had put the hosts in front at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, before Armando Broja’s neat finish ensured the sides went in level at the break.

Heung-Min Son then struck 20 minutes from time, tapping in a cross from Lucas Moura after Broja appeared to be down with a head injury.

But up popped Mohamed Elyounoussi to nod home a leveller and Adams found the St Mary’s side a pivotal blow with eight minutes remaining.

Victory moved Ralph Hasenhuttl’s men on to 28 points from 23 league games.

The big team news for the visitors in north London came up front, with frontman Broja judged fit to start having taken a knock to the knee in Saturday’s FA Cup victory over Coventry.

There was however no place in Saints’ squad for full-back Tino Livramento or Nathan Redmond, the latter reportedly out with an ankle knock sustained in training.

Tottenham named an unchanged side. Boss Antonio Conte kept faith with the XI that started their 3-1 FA Cup win over Brighton.

But it was Saints who carved out the first opening of the contest after just four minutes.

Elyounoussi’s teasing cross found the run of Adams, who had escaped his marker at the back post before firing straight at home keeper Hugo Lloris.

Spurs then responded. After a foul by Stuart Armstrong in midfield, England striker Harry Kane tried his luck from range but his effort was comfortably dealt with by Fraser Forster.

Visiting stopper Forster then pulled off a heroic save to keep the scores goalless, stooping low to his left to deny Sergio Reguilon after the wing-back had been left free at the far post.

But Conte’s side took the lead with 18 minutes on the clock.

Son’s fizzed ball across goal caused Bednarek problems and, sliding in with an attempt to clear, the Poland international turned the ball into his own net.

Saints kept up their attacking intent however and got their leveller just five minutes later.

After Ben Davies failed to clear after slipping, the ball eventually found its way to Romain Perraud out on the left-hand side of the box.

His cross allowed Albanian international Broja the chance to fire a crisp finish past Lloris.

Perraud then caused problems yet again. Bursting down the left flank, he sent in a pinpoint cross for the run of Stuart Armstrong, who forced a diving stop from Lloris.

Broja had the chance to double his tally. A ball over the top allowed him to show the Spurs backline a clean pair of heels but, running in one-on-one, he dragged his effort wide of the far post – much to his dismay.

The visitors continued to take the game to Spurs and came within inches of taking the lead. Adams set the ball back to the lively Perraud, who rattled the woodwork with a stinging strike from distance.

Spurs started the second half in a livelier fashion. Reguilon’s menacing back-post delivery found the run of Kane, who had his head in his hands as he nodded the ball off target.

Kane then went down in the box under the challenge of Bednarek in the Saints box but the Spurs star was offside in the build-up.

But Tottenham got their second with 20 minutes remaining in controversial fashion. After Broja went down with a head injury after a robust challenge in the air from Davinson Sanchez, the hosts were allowed to play on.

Kane then picked out the run of Moura down the right, the Brazilian’s low centre found the run of Son to convert for 2-1, leaving the visiting bench far from happy.

But Saints refused to throw in the towel. First a cross from Ward-Prowse was nodded into the corner by Elyounoussi to level up the contest at 2-2.

And it was Adams who made it a night to remember for the men in yellow.

Another sublime delivery by Ward-Prowse allowed the Scotland star the chance to power a headed effort into the net and send the visiting fans delirious.

Spurs then thought they had their leveller when Steven Bergwijn tapped home in stoppage time – only to be judged offside after a VAR check.

Spurs: Lloris, Royal, Sanchez, Romero, Davies, Reguilon (Bergwijn, 83), Winks, Hojbjerg (Bentancur, 60), Son, Moura (Kulusevski, 76), Kane.

Unused subs: Doherty, Rodon, Sessegnon, White, Scarlett, Gollini (g/k).

Booked: Sanchez, Romero.

Saints: Forster, Walker-Peters, Bednarek, Salisu, Perraud, Romeu, Ward-Prowse, S Armstrong, Elyounoussi (Diallo, 90+6), Broja (Walcott, 90), Adams (Long, 88).

Unused subs: Valery, Stephens, Smallbone, Djenepo, A Armstrong, Caballero (g/k).

Booked: Romeu, Perraud, Forster.

Referee: David Coote.

Attendance: 54,012