Rory Delap scored his first goal for almost two years to ease the pressure on Southampton and consign Tottenham to another away defeat.
Republic of Ireland international Delap last scored a club goal against Fulham in March 2002 but this one was well worth the wait.
With a thunderous right-foot volley Delap put away a headed pass from Claus Lundekvam in the 64th minute to decide a match of many clear chances.
Tottenham played their full part in an entertaining and exciting game in which both goalkeepers made significant contributions.
For Southampton Antti Niemi kept out shots from Jermain Defoe and Jamie Redknapp and then from Robbie Keane after the former Leeds striker found himself clear with only the keeper to beat and ten yards out.
At the other end Kasey Keller was just as busy with important stops from James Beattie and Danny Higginbotham.
But Southampton should have done better with other chances, Beattie volleying over the bar while Kevin Phillips lifted a shot over Keller and wide of an open goal.
Fabrice Fernandes slid in unmarked at the far post but wasted a pass from Beattie as the Saints looked bright.
Tottenham had Gary Doherty and Christian Ziege booked for first-half fouls and were forced to rearrange their line-up at half time when Redknapp replaced Johnnie Jackson and Stephen Kelly came on for Ziege who limped off with a groin injury.
Redknapp was outstanding in midfield, relishing the room he found and giving a tough debut to 19-year-old Yoann Folly who had been drafted in as a defensive midfield player.
Ziege will have scans on the injury to determine its extent, leaving manager David Pleat to have no regrets about starting the match with three strikers in Defoe, Frederic Kanoute and Keane.
Southampton boss Paul Sturrock demanded an improved attitude and performance from his players after their poor display in defeat at neighbouring Portsmouth last week.
Saints responded with a much more dynamic performance but there is still, according to Sturrock, plenty of work to do before he can be satisfied that he has the team and the balance that he demands.
Sturrock admitted he had spoken to Delap about his lack of goals and had attempted to simplify his game but singled out debut making Folly for special praise.
He said: "Rory had the pressure on him but I am pleased he stepped up and showed what he can do because we have been lacking goals from midfield.
"Folly was incredible. He is only 19 but he produced a great performance and did exactly the job I have been wanting done in midfield since I arrived. He was outstanding.
"I thought we came to the show today. Our attitude, commitment and will to win were evident from the start and although the game was too open for my liking, the players responded in just the right way after the game at Portsmouth." The only incident to spoil Sturrock's day came in the 75th minute when Phillips, who had been in fine form, was replaced.
The former Sunderland striker rejected the offer of a tracksuit top and there was some finger-wagging from the manager as Phillips stormed off.
But Sturrock added: "It is a moment of passion and I love it. That sort of thing is normal in football because it is an emotional game.
"It is a past deed as far as I am concerned and we will talk about it over a few beers at some stage but overall I was looking for solidity and rhythm and I got both." Pleat could not hide his disappointment at another goalless away result but found some plus points and does not rule out a place in European football next season.
But he admitted: "We need a good run to get into the top eight and it is clear that we don't get enough goals. We were better today, but we have been insipid in our last two away games.
"Defoe looked sharp today and he might have got a goal or two but for Niemi who made some great saves.
"I played three forwards deliberately and I thought they all blended well enough and we did not lose our shape.
"We were better when Jamie Redknapp came on. He dictated in midfield and he said afterwards that he had never had so much possession away from home.
"Southampton's best player was probably their goalkeeper, which says a lot, and Defoe alone must have had eight chances and it's just a shame that he could not put any of them away." Ledley King, selected by England for the friendly with Sweden in Gothenburg, may be an early casualty after sustaining a hamstring injury.
Pleat added: "I think at this stage King will be doubtful for that game. I would have liked to have taken him off but I had already used my substitutes. You could tell he was not his normal self in the second half.
Tottenham's manager singled out defenders Doherty and Anthony Gardner who just about won a tough battle with Beattie and Phillips.
Pleat said: "I thought they were both tremendous because Beattie and Phillips are not the worst striking pair in the Premiership but they stuck at their job and did all that could be asked of them.
"In the end we were let down by our final pass which was not good enough but overall our performance was not bad at all." Man of the match - Antti Niemi: Southampton fans are used to his heroics every week and he made three saves to deny Tottenham goals, making them all look easy.