Tim Sherwood claimed his first victory as interim Tottenham Hotspur coach on Sunday as his side came from behind to win 3-2 at Southampton in the Premier League.

Tottenham lost at home to West Ham United in the League Cup in mid-week, following the sacking of manager Andre Villas-Boas, and Sherwood saw his side fall behind against Southampton to an early goal from Adam Lallana.

Emmanuel Adebayor equalised for Spurs and a Jos Hooiveld own goal put the visitors in front, only for Rickie Lambert to draw Southampton level, but Adebayor struck again to seal the first win of the post-Villas-Boas era.

“In the second half they (the players) took it on. We showed we have real quality,” Sherwood told Sky Sports.

On Adebayor, who made his first league start of the season, Sherwood added: “Emmanuel Adebayor has not been playing, so he did not require much motivating. You put him back in because of what he has done in history.”

Beaten 5-0 at home by Liverpool in their last league outing, Spurs moved above Manchester United to seventh place in the table, four points below the top four, while Southampton remained ninth after a sixth successive game without victory.

In the late game, England midfielder Ross Barkley scored a brilliant 84th-minute free-kick to earn Everton a 2-1 win at Swansea City that propelled his side into the Champions League places.

Everton right-back Seamus Coleman broke the deadlock in the 66th minute with a swerving 30-yard shot, but Swansea equalised four minutes later when Dwight Tiendalli’s volley deflected in off Bryan Oviedo.

Barkley settled matters at the death, bending a sumptuous free-kick in off the crossbar from just outside the box to give Everton manager Roberto Martinez victory against his former club.

The victory left Everton in fourth place, a point above Chelsea, having played a game more, while Swansea remain 11th.

Liverpool deposed Arsenal as league leaders on Saturday with a 3-1 win at home to Cardiff City, while Manchester City moved up to second place by winning 4-2 at Fulham.

Arsenal can return to the top of the table by beating Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium on Monday, but Jose Mourinho’s visitors will draw level on points with Liverpool if they prevail.