LONDON — 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 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. Everton surged up to fourth, pending Chelsea's trip to Arsenal Monday, after England prospect Ross Barkley's perfect free kick six minutes from time secured a deserved 2-1 win at Swansea City. 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 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. Everton in contrast is flying after a fourth victory in five games with midfielder Barkley particularly on fire. The 20-year-old was again busy throughout in south Wales and sent his free kick crashing in off the bar as boss Roberto Martinez triumphed over his former club and saw his side go a point above Chelsea and only two off top. Everton opened the scoring after 66 minutes following sustained pressure when Seamus Coleman's fierce swerving shot was allowed in at the near post by keeper Gerhard Tremmel. Swansea was without injured talisman Michu and had brief hope when Dwight Tiendalli's 70th-minute prod deflected in off Bryan Oviedo. — Agencies
