Tottenham closed the calendar year in fine fashion as they bet ten man Southampton 4-1 at St. Mary’s Stadium on Wednesday night.

The clash began quickly with Virgil van Dijk heading the hosts in front inside two minutes, before Dele Alli levelled just shy of the 20 minute mark.

Into the second half, Tottenham continued to dominate as the home side were pegged back before Harry Kane bagged the third headed goal of the game to give Mauricio Pochettino’s side the lead.

Five minutes later the visitors were gifted the chance to add to their lead when Nathan Redmond was sent off for a foul on Dele Alli and Spurs given a penalty.

Harry Kane sent the resultant penalty well over the bar, however the dismissal was enough to condemn the Saints.

As the game came to a close and Claude Puel’s ten remaining men tired further Heung-min Son and Dele Alli both bagged late goals to more than seal the three points.

Having taken stock, here is what’s hot and what’s not from the Premier League clash…

HOT: Dele Alli

The England international was a danger throughout and was repaid with two well taken goals.

A perfectly executed header brought Spurs level out of nowhere and turned the tide in the first half. Before Alli’s equaliser the Saints looked confident and in control, however, the goal turned the game on it’s head.

NOT: Mike Dean

The referee was the centre of attention at St Mary’s on Wednesday night, which is something that should never happen.

The penalty award against Nathan Redmond appeared harsh, with the former Norwich man stumbling as he brushed Alli. If that, however, was harsh then there are few words to describe the decision to send him for an early bath.

Although Spurs were in the ascendancy leading up to the penalty there were spells after when ten man Southampton looked threatening, if only they had their full complement the game could have continued to be as entertaining as the first half.

HOT: Poch’s plot

Virgil van Dijk’s early goal rocked Pochettino’s side, and they appeared unsettled as Saints continued to press and harry their back line.

However, with Dele Alli’s equaliser restoring the balance, the north London side settled and began to dictate the pace.

As the second half bore on, the visitors continued to dominate and stifle the Saints, the former south coast manager’s plot was perfectly executed.

NOT: Puel’s plan

Whilst Pochettino’s game plan worked to perfection, Claude Puel’s seemed to baffle some.

There has been criticism from some corners of St. Mary’s aimed at the Frenchman, mainly for his rotation policy and slightly more restrained style of play, most of which has been entirely unwarranted.

However, considering the pace with which his side started last night, which seriously rocked Spurs, having seen Dele Alli bag an equaliser, you’d think the former Nice boss would look for more of the same in order to regain the lead.

That would seem to be the logical thing, being at home. But the hosts seemed to sit back and play as an away side, cautious and happy to take a point at home and creating few chances, not what Saints fans will have wanted to see.