DANNY Ings continued his remarkable run as Saints began 2020 by climbing up to 12th in the Premier League.

Ings' ninth goal is as many starts was arguably the best of his incredible season, a left-footed finish after an audacious chip over Toby Alderweireld in the penalty area.

It took Saints up to 11th in the Premier League before Arsenal's win against Manchester United and, more importantly, increased the gap above the relegation zone to five points. 

Saints manager Ralph Hasenhuttl made two changes to the side that drew 1-1 with Crystal Palace.

Sofiane Boufal was ruled out with a recurrence of his toe injury and was replaced by Stuart Armstrong, while Moussa Djenepo came in for Che Adams following his cameo against Palace.

After Cedric put wide a second-minute free header from a Bertrand cross, Spurs had the first shot on target. Harry Kane’s deflected strike was tipped behind by a diving Alex McCarthy, who held on when Dele Alli glanced on a header from Kane’s chip.

Alli went down under a challenge from Jack Stephens but his appeals for a penalty were turned down.

Playing as a central striker, Nathan Redmond had Saints’ first shot on goal when he jinked past a couple of challenges and fired left-footed at Paulo Gazzaniga, winning a corner.

Saints soon had the lead thanks to another wonderful finish from Ings in the 18th minute.

An excellent pass out of defence from Jack Stephens sent him away down the inside right channel, where the Saints talisman’s chip over the hapless Alderweireld gave him all the time he needed to pick his spot.

Ings needed only one more touch, finding the bottom corner with his left foot from ten yards out.

Giovani Lo Celso won a corner with a first-time effort soon after coming on for the injured Tanguy Ndombele.

But Saints nearly doubled their lead when Stuart Armstrong beat his man to the byline and chipped across a ball met by Redmond but deflected behind at the near post.

When Kane drove a powerful 20-yarder straight at McCarthy, the Saints goalkeeper parried it and had a brief scare when Alli fell as they battled for the rebound.

Thankfully, VAR rightly upheld the decision not to give a penalty.

Armstrong headed a Redmond cross at Gazzaniga in first-half injury time and Saints continued to look the side most likely to score after the break.

Redmond volleyed over a Cedric cross and VAR turned down Saints' appeals for a penalty when Bertrand’s cross struck the outstretched arm of Alderweireld.

For much of the second half the main worry for Saints fans was the foul on Ings that earned Sissoko a booking and the lengthy VAR decision that denied Kane an equaliser.

Soon after Jan Vertonghen headed a free-kick straight at McCarthy, Kane had the ball in the net from Eriksen's delivery.

But after a few minutes of deliberation, VAR confirmed the offside, as Spurs number ten limped off clutching his hamstring.

Jose Mourinho was booked after wandering over to the Saints coaching staff as Spurs’ frustrations grew.

Long headed wide a Ward-Prowse corner and after a standing ovation for Ings, Michael Obafemi provided a threat on the counter attack.

A memorable win for Saints has provided the perfect start to 2020.

SAINTS: McCarthy, Cedric, Stephens, Bednarek, Bertrand, Hojbjerg, Ward-Prowse, Armstrong (Romeu 90), Djenepo (Long 58), Redmond, Ings (Obafemi 76).
Subs: Gunn, Yoshida, Vestergaard, Adams.
Booked: Djenepo, Bednarek, Ward-Prowse.

TOTTENHAM: Gazzaniga, Aurier, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Sessegnon Ndombele (La Celso 24), Sissoko, Moura, Alli, Eriksen, Kane (Lamela 76).
Subs: Vorm, Sanchez, Winks, Skipp,Tanganga.
Booked: Lo Celso, Aurier. Sissoko, Eriksen

Referee: Mike Dean