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Tottenham Hotspur player ratings in Mason’s managerial debut

By Aaron Coe

LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 21: Hugo Lloris of Tottenham Hotspur looks on during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on April 21, 2021 in London, United Kingdom. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 21: Hugo Lloris of Tottenham Hotspur looks on during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on April 21, 2021 in London, United Kingdom. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images) /
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Tottenham celebrate goal from Gareth Bale
Tottenham Hotspur’s Welsh midfielder Gareth Bale (L) celebrates scoring his team’s first goal with Tottenham Hotspur’s Ivorian defender Serge Aurier (2L) during the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in north London on April 21, 2021. (Photo by CLIVE ROSE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /

Tottenham Offensive Ratings

Hugo Lloris did a nice job leading from the back for Tottenham, fortunately for the Spurs, their attackers – less Harry Kane – stepped up as well. The Lilywhites essentially played without a striker, letting the three frontmen interchange and take turns dropping deep and chasing upfront.

Son – 7.5

Son Heung-Min was another leader on the pitch for Tottenham. Sonny should have had two goals if not for VAR again taking away one of his goals for offside. Son dropped deep and worked to play hold-up man for the team but really did his playmaking in the final third. Son set up Moura for a nice shot that led to Bale’s goal and he had a few other nice passes in the build-up of the attack. Really showing leadership on the pitch as he encouraged the team to forget celebrating Bale’s goal and get back to kickoff.

Lucas – 6.5

Lucas Moura was his normal self on Wednesday, running around all over the field and causing trouble for everyone in his path. Unfortunately, Jonathan Moss and VAR deemed that path to include the vision of Southampton goalkeeper Alex McCarthy, which cost Tottenham their initial second goal. Had a half-chance in the first half, but totally flailed on the attempt. Moura had a nice shot blocked in the second half that fell to Bale for the first Tottenham goal.

Bale – 7.5

Gareth Bale was rather effective on Wednesday. The Welshman sent in five crosses – a team-high – and of course scored the first goal of the match. Bale was not fantastic on the ball but he was in the right place at the right time and scored a beauty. Anytime he has the ball from 25 yards in on the right side something can happen and Wednesday it did. Maybe his diagonal runs to go for the ball and create space were some of his best contributions and something we really wanted to see. Can Bale consistently perform for the next month is a big, big question.