Adkins bemoans failure to grab a point

Nigel Adkins says Southampton should have salvaged at least a point from Tottenham but believes they simply ran out of time.

Former Saints wideman Gareth Bale put the visitors ahead on Sunday before Clint Dempsey doubled Spurs’ advantage before half-time.

However, after Jay Rodriguez netted for the home side just after the hour, the Saints launched an onslaught which Adkins believes merited a share of the spoils.

“We could have scored more, we had them on the rack, but unfortunately we ran out of time,” he told Southampton’s official website.

“The second half was very good I think and we gave ourselves the opportunity to win the game.

“What we did in the second half we had wanted to do in the first half so let’s give Spurs some credit because they slowed the game down very well.

“I think we had good possession up until the final third where we just couldn’t find the breakthrough, which is something that we talked about at half time, but in the second half it was a good performance from the players.

“We wanted to get on the front foot, Nathaniel Clyne put a great challenge in on Bale in the early stages and you start to think things might go your way.

“We got on the ball and moved it because we wanted to get a high tempo going, which is what we did in the second half.”

The Wirral-born boss went on to hail the contributions of summer signings Rodriguez and Emmanuel Mayuka as the hosts pushed for an equaliser.

“The second half was very rewarding, the supporters got right behind the players and the players lifted the supporters and we have scored one good goal through Jay Rodriguez,” he added.

“Jay has come in as a young lad and he works ever so well on the training ground and out there on the pitch, his movement is exceptional as far as I am concerned and he has a very good goalscoring record so we know he can score goals.

“Like everybody he needs a little bit of time but he is a special talent and he has a great future in the game.

“I think Mayuka coming on to the pitch has given us a big boost, he has tracked back and made a great tackle and was very positive in that three up top.

“He wants to play down the middle but we have introduced him down the right hand side today, he has had the impact that was required and he did that very well.”