Ralph Hasenhuttl faces difficult task after watching Spurs stroll to victory over Southampton

Ralph Hasenhuttl was christened the Alpine Klopp in Germany and Southampton’s new manager will now be in no doubt that he and his players have a Premier League mountain to climb.

Goals from Harry Kane, Lucas Moura and Son Heung-min meant Tottenham bounced back from their derby defeat to Arsenal, and underlined the size of the task  facing the watching Hasenhuttl.

Bottom of the table and without the promise of big money to spend, Hasenhuttl will need all his Klopp-like qualities to drag the Saints clear of relegation – starting against  Cardiff City on Saturday.

Substitute Charlie Austin’s late consolation strike did at least put a smile on the face of Hasenhuttl, who saw Southampton hit the woodwork three times and Hugo Lloris make some important saves. But defending badly and missing chances is a bad combination.

Hasenhuttl met with manager-for-the-night Kelvin Davis, who made four changes from the side that had drawn with Manchester United, after lunch on the day of the game. “He was very concise, honest and to the point with what he wanted and how he wants to work,” said Davis. “There was a good feel to him and he is keen to improve us.

“He addressed the coaching staff and it was quite simple, how he likes to play the game, how he likes his sessions to be planned and the standards he expects. There will be no grey areas.”

Hasenhuttl was in the stand next to Southampton director of football operations Ross Wilson and the pair barely had time for any small talk as Tottenham hit the post and took the lead inside the first 10 minutes.

The visitors’ frail defence was first exposed in the third minute, when Eric Dier’s long ball was  nodded on by Kieran Trippier and Son volleyed against the post.

Southampton did not heed the warning, however, as they were punished for switching off again in the ninth minute. Trippier played a short corner to Christian Eriksen, who was unmarked and had time to send in a low cross that Kane converted at the near post.

Manolo Gabbiadini tried to play Stuart Armstrong in for a quick  reply, but the in-form Scotsman was flagged offside. The pair were involved again, as Southampton came within a whisker of snatching a 26th-minute equaliser. Gabbiadini held the ball up well in the penalty area and laid it off to Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, whose powerful drive was tipped on to the post by Lloris. Armstrong shot wide from the rebound, but, again, he was offside.

Southampton were being helped by the flat atmosphere and the 33,012 attendance was the worst for a Premier League game at Wembley, beating the previous record of 43,268 against Cardiff City.

“We cannot ask more of our fans,” said Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino. “Of course it was a difficult evening, for the fans too. We need to find our own motivation. I understand the situation and why Wembley wasn’t great.”

Given his new team’s bad start, Hasenhuttl would no doubt have been relatively satisfied to have seen Southampton go in at the break only one goal behind. But the visitors started the second half just as badly as they had done the first and the game was effectively over in the 55th-minute.

Alex McCarthy had already got his defence off the hook three minutes after the restart when he saved Toby Alderweireld’s header from Eriksen’s corner. The goalkeeper then tipped an Eriksen free-kick wide and from the Dane’s resulting corner, Moura had a shot blocked by Jack Stephens but reacted quickest to fire the rebound into the net.

Matt Targett had struggled all night for the visitors and the left-back was the man at fault for  Tottenham’s third goal.

It was Trippier who Targett lost out to and the Tottenham right-back quickly passed to Kane, who superbly crossed for forward Son to score and wrap up the three points for the hosts.

Hasenhuttl stared straight ahead from his seat, probably completely unaware that a trip back down the M3 after the final whistle could be every bit as torturous as the game was panning out for him.

But there were some encouraging signs in Southampton’s attacking play and they went close on a couple of occasions during the final 15 minutes, hitting the bar through Nathan Redmond and substitute Mohamed Elyounoussi.

Austin then managed to get on the scoresheet in stoppage time, but, despite his smile, Hasenhuttl will know he has plenty of work to do at both ends of the pitch.