St Mary's Stadium saw an awful first-half performance from a Tottenham Hotspur side who were bailed out by stand-out performances from four-goal hero Heung-Min Son and strike partner Harry Kane, as they beat hosts Southampton 2-5.

The home side dominated the first half, taking the lead through talisman Danny Ings, but an equaliser from Son late into the first 45 minutes gave the visitors some hope of turning it around in the second half.

A further three goals from Son and one from Kane, who set up all four of the Korean's strikes, settled the game before Ings' late penalty made it 2-5.

Story of the match

Despite Southampton dominating the first half, it was Spurs who almost opened the scoring through Harry Kane, as he acrobatically volleyed past Alex McCarthy off the assist from Matt Doherty - but VAR ruled the goal out for offside on Heung-Min Son.

Up the other end about five minutes later, it was Spurs under pressure, as Che Adams found himself free in the Spurs box - but Hugo Lloris parried the ball brilliantly over the bar.

It was then Southampton's turn to have a goal ruled out as Adams flicked the ball over the top to chase which Lloris attempted to head clear, only to head the ball onto Ings' arm, allowing the striker to put the ball into an empty net - but VAR rightly ruling the goal out for handball.

Moussa Djenepo, starting due to an injury to Nathan Redmond, was at the centre of two big Southampton chances that followed, but it was Ings who opened the scoring for the home side in the 32nd minute, beating Dier for pace and then burying the ball played by former Spurs man Kyle Walker-Peters in the far corner from a tight angle.

Spurs took a while to respond, but they finally conjured up an attack after a number of woeful possessions, when Tanguy Ndombele beat his man for strength before turning skilfully and playing the ball out wide to Kane who squared for Son's first.

It then took two minutes after the restart for Spurs to get the second, as Kane managed to turn the ball expertly round the corner and behind the last man for Son to chase and then finish emphatically to put his side in front.

Southampton did have chances to equalise through James Ward-Prowse and Adams after errors from Dier, but Spurs doubled the margin of the scoreline when Kane controlled the ball in the Southampton half and again played the ball beautifully over the top for Son to make it 3-1 and get his hat-trick.

Ten minutes later it was 4-1, and it was pretty much the same move to create the goal - Kane with another over-the-top ball for Son who again executed a deadly finish.

Kane managed to get his reward moments later with a goal for himself, as Giovani Lo Celso, on at half-time for Ndombele, found Erik Lamela - another substitute, who had his shot tipped onto the post, but the England captain was there to tuck in the rebound.

Southampton did get a late consolation in the 89th minute though, as Doherty was adjudged to have handled the ball in the box - which he did - but it was very very harsh on the new man as Ings dispatched the penalty straight down the middle.

Man of the match - Heung-Min Son

What a performance from Son who bagged four goals today - pipping Harry Kane to the post for man of the match who managed four assists and a goal too.

Every time Kane picked the ball up in space, he was able to find Son with an over the top ball and Spurs looked like scoring every instance.

Gareth Bale no doubt will be licking his lips at the prospect of joining this elite attacking force.