Spurs' build-up to Wednesday's game was hardly ideal given the loss of Kane to injury before Jose Mourinho was sacked amid the backdrop of the European Super League controversy.

Yet Mason, who became the Premier League's youngest-ever manager at 29 years 312 days, saw his team recover following a rocky start.

Seemingly a result of Kane's absence, Spurs failed to get a single shot on target in the first half for the first time this season, with Southampton, who went ahead through Danny Ings, good value for their lead.

Gareth Bale's equaliser sparked Spurs into life and, despite the disappointment of having a Son strike disallowed, the South Korean subsequently converted an 88th minute spot-kick to give Mason's men a boost ahead of Sunday's EFL Cup final with Manchester City.

Southampton made their intentions known in just the third minute as Hugo Lloris was forced into a double save to deny Mohammed Salisu and then Che Adams.

Giovani Lo Celso shot wide soon after in what was one of few highlights for Spurs, who found themselves behind at the half-hour mark when Ings met James Ward-Prowse's corner with a well-placed glancing header.

Spurs repaired the first-half damage with an hour on the clock, Bale picking out the top-left corner from a tight angle after Salisu had blocked Lucas' initial effort.

The hosts then thought they had taken the lead 15 minutes from time as Son turned in Sergio Reguilon's cutback, but a VAR check confirmed Lucas was interfering with play in an offside position.

But another review near the end went Spurs' way, as Moussa Djenepo caught Reguilon on the edge of the box and the initial free-kick decision was upgraded to a penalty, which Son coolly buried.

Australian Associated Press