SOUTHAMPTON — Harry Kane struck his 99th Premier League goal to earn Tottenham a 1-1 draw at St Mary's Sunday after Davinson Sanchez's own goal had given Southampton an early lead.

The result moves Spurs closer to Liverpool in fourth place but it was not enough to lift Southampton out of the relegation zone.

Kane's goal was his ninth in his past five Premier League starts and he is now just a goal away from becoming the 27th member of the '100 Club'.

But with Mauricio Pochettino's side piling on the pressure in the closing stages against his former club, the Argentine will consider this a missed opportunity in Spurs' hunt for a Champions League place.

The form guide appeared to give Southampton little chance of victory but this was a spirited performance from the home side. Mauricio Pellegrino's team had not won since November and dropped into the relegation zone this weekend.

Fans are growing impatient that none of the £75 million (85 million euros, $104 million) Liverpool paid for Virgil Van Dijk has yet been invested, with just 10 days left of the transfer window.

Abdoulaye Doucoure's controversial last-minute equaliser for Watford denied Saints two precious points last weekend and pressure is growing on the Southampton manager, who has been the target of fans' frustrations in recent weeks.

Fortunes could hardly be more different for Spurs, managed by former Saints boss Pochettino.

He has never lost a game at St Mary's since leaving the south coast and his team came into this fixture unbeaten in its past five Premier League matches.

Flu struck both teams in the build-up, with Southampton missing Shane Long and Tottenham without Hugo Lloris and Christian Eriksen. — AFP