Tim Sherwood's hopes of becoming Tottenham Hotspur's permanent manager were boosted after his attacking team came back to win 3-2 at stuttering Southampton in an enthralling Premier League game on Sunday.

Forgotten man Emmanuel Adebayor scored twice as caretaker boss Sherwood played the Togo striker up front with Roberto Soldado for the first time in a ploy which helped Spurs move above Manchester United into seventh spot.

Sherwood, who took over for two games at least when Andre Villas-Boas was sacked by Spurs after last weekend's 5-0 home thumping by Liverpool, threw caution to the wind in his bid to get the job full-time by also playing without a defensive midfielder.

It looked to have backfired when unmarked midfielder Adam Lallana grabbed the opener for Southampton on 13 minutes with a fine turn and shot from 20 meters.

Adebayor, who scored on his return to the team in the midweek League Cup loss to West Ham United, then expertly volleyed in Soldado's superb cross for a 25th-minute equalizer on his first league start of the season.

Spurs, who have now come from behind to win their past three away games, made a flying start to the second half and it was no surprise when Jos Hooiveld turned Danny Rose's low cross into his own goal on 54 minutes.

Southampton made it 2-2 when Rickie Lambert tapped in following more great work from England colleague Lallana but Adebayor sealed the win when he fired home after a ricochet on 64 minutes before Soldado missed three good chances.

"You enjoy it when you win. I did not enjoy the first half, I thought we were poor," Sherwood told Sky Sports.

"I need to speak to the chairman about how they want to take the club forward. That will happen sooner rather than later I hope, as these guys need a manager.

"I like to set teams up like that (in an attacking manner). There are no rules, there are different ways to win a football match. You have to do what you believe."

- Reuters

(China Daily 12/24/2013 page23)