Tottenham Hotspur stuttered in their pursuit of the Premier League top four on Wednesday as they opened the new year with a 1-0 away defeat against Southampton, with captain Harry Kane forced to limp off late in the game due to an injury.

Hosts Southampton went close on 12 minutes as Nathan Redmond showed some neat control in Spurs' box before forcing Paulo Gazzaniga into a sharp save. They then took the lead through in-form Danny Ings on 17 minutes when the striker flicked the ball over Toby Alderweireld and finished smartly past Gazzaniga for his 13th league goal of the season.

Spurs' Tanguy Ndombele was soon substituted after sustaining an injury, and Ralph Hasenhuttl's side applied the pressure, with Redmond again almost scoring shortly after the half-hour mark when his close-range effort was deflected over by Alderweireld.

Just minutes later Jan Vertonghen had a clear opportunity to bring the visitors level as the first half neared its end, but the Belgium international failed to find the net despite getting on the end of a corner at the back post.

Thirty seconds into the second half Redmond was put through on goal, but again failed to punish Spurs, who were without the injured Danny Rose and ill Eric Dier.

A VAR check on 48 minutes ensured Southampton were not awarded a penalty after the ball struck Alderweireld's hand in the visitors' box, and another check on 72 minutes supported the on-pitch officials' decision to rule Kane offside after the striker found the net for Spurs.

To make matters worse for the north London side, Kane injured himself in the process and was forced off while clutching his hamstring. then coach Jose Mourinho was given a yellow card after seemingly confronting members of Southampton's coaching staff.

Of the incident, Mourinho said after the final whistle: "I think [my] yellow card was fair as I was rude, but I was rude to an idiot."

The Portuguese also commented on Kane and Ndomble's injuries, saying: "[Kane's] is negative, hamstring is always negative. Is it a tear, is it a small thing, is it a contraction? At this moment I cannot say.

"[Ndombele] is always injured. He's injured, he's not injured, he plays one match. This is since the beginning of the season."

Mourinho was also frustrated with VAR's involvement in the game and said he believed his side should have been awarded a penalty.

"For me, at this moment, the referees are not the referees," he said. "VAR should be called video referees. Our [disallowed] goal I also don't know, but I confess that I didn't watch it yet. What I know is that the Dele Alli penalty was a penalty."

The defeat saw Spurs remain on 30 points, six behind fourth-placed Chelsea. It also meant the club's wait for a clean sheet away in the Premier League extended to exactly one year.

BRIGHTON, England -- What did we all realistically expect from Chelsea at the beginning of the season? This was a team with a new manager, one whose previous experience extended to one season in the second tier, where he finished sixth; a team whose best player had departed and they were not allowed to replace him; a team who weren't allowed to sign any players in the summer, in fact; a club whose owner seemed to be losing interest after 16 years of lavish funding.

Even with the ostensibly disappointing 1-1 draw against Brighton on New Year's Day, Chelsea begin 2020 quite firmly in the Champions League places. If you were being harsh, you would say this was par. But any fair judge would say that, in comparison to what we expected in August, they are over-performing.

The trouble with over-performing is that expectations change. Having made it beyond the halfway stage of the season in the top four, it's not much good shrugging and saying, "Well the first half was great, so let's not worry too much about the second." Chelsea are in a good position, better than most expected, but now they have to maintain it.

And as this result emphasised, they almost certainly won't do that if they simply carry on as they have been.

Criticising Chelsea's recent form actually doesn't really qualify as criticism. Given the circumstances, their inconsistency is inevitable. It's a little like pointing out that it was cold in Brighton on Wednesday. But as things stand, Frank Lampard's side are simply too inconsistent to maintain their spot in the top four.

You could write off the draw against Brighton as a relative freak, the result of a sensational strike from Alireza Jahanbakhsh, an overhead kick from a man who hadn't scored a goal in 18 months before this week, the sort of thing it's impossible to legislate for. But if Chelsea had done their jobs properly, then that strike would have been relegated to glorious consolation, the sort of goal the Iran forward would remember but not many others would.

And Lampard recognises that too.

"It was an incredible goal, that's for sure, but I think we deserved it," he said after the game. "In the first half, if we were ruthless, then the game would be out of sight. We had control, we had opportunities ... but we allowed them to feel like they were still in the game."

At about the hour mark, the tally of shots was 14-4 in Chelsea's favour. Throughout the first half they dominated the ball, and they pressed Brighton well so that their attempts to build play from the back looked less like constructive play and more the manifestation of a death wish.

But after Cesar Azpilicueta's opener, turning home when unmarked in the six-yard box in the 10th minute, Chelsea took on the air of a team that just assumed more goals would come. They created a series of chances and half-chances but converted none of them. At one point Tammy Abraham drove into the area with Willian unmarked and in yards of space to his right, but instead of a simple pass to give the Brazilian a clear effort at goal, he took a shot himself that went nowhere. Across the experienced Willian's face spread an exasperated look, as if he could sense what would happen over the following hour or so.

In the end, Chelsea were slightly fortunate to even get a point. Kepa Arrizabalaga, singled out for praise by Lampard after the game, had to make a couple of brilliant saves as Brighton took advantage of a retreating Chelsea in the closing stages, one in particular with his feet from Neal Maupay standing out. Seven of Brighton's 16 shots came after the 80th minute: Chelsea looked tired, perhaps not necessarily in body but certainly in mind.

And clearly this game is not an isolated one.

"The Christmas period summed up our season," said Lampard. "Tottenham was fantastic, at Arsenal we showed great spirit and fight for such a young group, against Southampton we struggled to break them down and today when we should have the mindset to take the opportunities we had in the first half, we didn't. We had two great results over Christmas, but we have a lot of work to do."

Lampard emphasised afterward that the work can be done with the players already in his team, but thoughts will inevitably turn to the transfer window now that Chelsea are permitted to buy again. They need another centre-back, probably another left-back (Azpilicueta filled in yet again, but there were at least three occasions in the second half when a natural left-footer could have taken better advantage of an overlap on the flank), potentially a winger given Willian and Pedro are out of contract in the summer, and a striker to support/augment/replace Abraham.

Normally January is not a time to do significant business, but this is not a normal January. Chelsea potentially have to cram three transfer windows into one: they must catch up from last summer, do all the work they would usually do in January, and with those expiring deals in mind also look forward to next summer -- should the right replacements be available. There is talk of £150 million to spend, which doesn't get you as far as it used to but will augment a clearly talented yet flawed squad nicely.

There's plenty of potential in this Chelsea team. In some respects it's extraordinary that they are as high up the table as they are, but if something doesn't change then they won't be there for long.

Jos Buttler has admitted he is "not quite performing to the standards" he would like with the bat in Test cricket.

Butter is averaging just 23.14 since the start of the Ashes - a period of 14 innings in seven Tests - with one half-century (70 against Australia at The Oval). His average since he was recalled to the Test team in May 2018 is now 34.10, while his overall Test average, after 38 Tests, is 33. He has made just one century.

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Now Buttler concedes he is still "trying to work out" a way to play Test cricket with the natural aggression that has rendered him one of the world's most dangerous limited-overs batsmen. And he has resolved to be "a bit more positive" in the future if the situation allows.

"I feel like I'm not quite performing to the standards I need to," Buttler said. "I'm trying to improve that and affect games in positive ways for England.

"Since I've come back into Test cricket I've tried to trust my defence for longer periods of time. I've been able to do that on occasions. But [playing my natural game] is certainly something I'm trying to work out.

"You can do a lot of work in the nets but I'm spending a lot of time thinking about the game when I'm sat in my room or trying to visualise things or work through them in my head. Moving forward I've got to play the situation, but I will try to be a bit more positive."

"I want to look to be a bit busier and try to look a bit more on the positive side" Jos Buttler

He doesn't have to look too far for an example. For while Buttler made 12 off 39 balls in the first innings in Centurion, failing to marshal much resistance from the tail, his South Africa counterpart Quinton de Kock thumped 95 from 128 balls in the first innings and 34 from 37 in the second, to speed the game away from England.

"Quinton played a really good knock and put pressure back on the bowlers," Buttler said. "He tried to take the initiative and, watching that from behind the stumps, it resonated with me.

"When you're batting with the tail, you try to sum up situations and work out how best you can score. You work out your risk management.: what is too much risk; what is trying to push the game on.

"Looking ahead to this Test, I want to look to be a bit busier and try to look a bit more on the positive side."

While some have suggested Buttler would benefit from a position higher up the batting order to allow him time to build an innings, the England management believe that batting him at No. 7 allows him the freedom to play his familiar, aggressive game in the knowledge that he has limited before the lower-order are dismissed.

He has batted everywhere from No. 5 (eight times) to No. 8 (twice) since his return to the Test side (he has batted 13 times at No. 6 and 15 times at No. 7) with little obvious change in strike rate or average. Overall, he averages slightly more at No. 7 (33.15, with a strike-rate of 56.77) than No. 5 (28.62; strike-rate of 53.62) with No. 6 (average 39.69; strike-rate 63.15) his best position.

"It's obviously nicer to be 300 for 5 than 100 for 5," he said. "But you turn up and try to play the situation."

With Jonny Bairstow - who averaged just 18 in 2019 - also having lost form, there is not the pressure on Buttler's position from within the squad that there might be. But Ben Foakes, who averages 41.50 from his five Tests and is, in the eyes of many, the best wicketkeeper available to England, in the background, Buttler will know neither he or his team can afford a sustained fallow period.

Worcester Warriors' South African forward Richard Palframan has signed a new one-year contract extension with the ambitious Premiership side.

The former London Irish and London Scottish is now contracted at Sixways until the end of the 2020-21 season.

Palframan has put behind him a string of injuries suffered in his Irish days.

"Richard has shown great tenacity in overcoming a series of injuries to re-ignite his career here at Sixways," said director of rugby Alan Solomons.

"His scrummaging has come on leaps and bounds and he is making good progress with his general play. He is also a first-class bloke and a great team man."

Son of ex-South Africa international cricketer Steve Palframan, he is the 13th Warriors player to sign a new deal at Sixways over the last few weeks.

"I was really happy to be given the opportunity to come here," he said. "I'm happy with the way I'm playing and with the game time I've been getting. I've played a little bit more than I expected and it's nice to be pushing for a spot now."

Perennial relegation battlers Worcester Warriors are sixth in the Premiership this season, having won four of their seven games so far. They are next in action at champions Saracens on Saturday.

TULSA, Okla. – With check-in expiring around noon on Wednesday, the 35th annual Lucas Oil Tulsa Shootout has set a new entry record, with 1,384 entries turned in so far.

Set in 2016, the previous record was 1,251 entries.

Looking at the numbers by class, Non-Wing Outlaw at 306 entries (previous 274), Winged A-Class at 309 entries (previous 243), and Stock Non-Wing with a staggering 333 entries (previous 284) are the first divisions to ever crest the 300 mark.

Winged Outlaw eclipsed the previous record of 216 with 224 entering the 2020 event.

Restricted A-Class at 112 set a new class record, as did the Junior Sprints with 69 entries.

Making up the 1,384 entries are 608 drivers from 352 cities across 37 states and Australia.

Heat Races in Non-Wing Outlaw and Restricted will take place Wednesday evening, with racing firing off Thursday through Saturday at 9:00 a.m. CT.

For fans making their way to Tulsa, weekday admission (Jan. 1-3) is $15 per day, with Jan. 4 pricing at $20. Each day, kids 10 and under get in free with a paid adult.

All seating is sold at the event.

The 35th edition of the Lucas Oil Tulsa Shootout features A-Class (Wing and Restricted), Stock Non-Wing, Outlaw (Wing and Non-Wing) and Junior Sprints, as well as the new Oklahoma 600cc Modifieds.

GRANVILLE, Australia – Carson Macedo kept his impressive run of form at Valvoline Raceway going by winning the 69th running of the Australian Speedcar Grand Prix on Wednesday.

Macedo took his third victory in the midgets this winter with a wire-to-wire performance aboard the No. 99 Dyson Motorsport King-Toyota.

In a caution-laden feature, Macedo never faltered and crossed the line 1.585 seconds clear of second-place Matthew Jackson in the end.

Nathan Smee completed the podium, followed by D.J. Raw and Dean Meadows, who both earned top-five finishes after transferring in out of the B-main on Wednesday.

Michael Stewart, Dan Biner, Harley Smee, Alan Day and Glen Shaw capped off the top 10.

The finish:

1. Carson Macedo, 2. Matt Jackson, 3. Nathan Smee, 4. DJ Raw, 5. Dean Meadows, 6. Michael Stewart, 7. Dan Biner, 8. Harley Smee, 9. Alan Day, 10. Glen Shaw, 11. Ricky Robinson, 12. Troy Jenkins, 13. Rod Francis, 14. Stephen Birkett, 15. Cal Whatmore, 16. Jamie Hall.

ACACIA RIDGE, Australia – Donny Schatz steamed to his third-straight win at Ausdeck Archerfield Speedway with another impressive performance on Wednesday.

After starting from outside the second row, Schatz methodically worked his way forward in the 35-lap East Coast Logistics Sprint Car Series feature, passing Luke Oldfield for the top spot with 11 to go after Oldfield retired from the event with terminal issues.

Schatz then led the rest of the way, beating Kevin Titman to the checkered flag by 1.853 seconds. It was his third win in three starts this winter at Archerfield.

Andrew Scheuerle completed the podium ahead of Allan Woods and Cody Maroske.

The finish:

1. USA15-Donny Schatz; 2. 59-Kevin Titman; 3. A1-Andrew Scheuerle; 4. 28-Allan Woods; 5. 5-Cody Maroske; 6. 3-Karl Hoffmans; 7. 10-Adam Butler; 8. 8-Brock Dean; 9. 33-Callum Walker; 10. 14-Mark Pholi; 11. 42-Kristy Bonsey; 12. NQ15-Nick Whell; 13. 88-Ryan McNamara; 14. 17-Luke Oldfield; 15. Q2-Brent Kratzmann; 16. 51-Tim Farrell; 17. 78-Andrew Corbet; 18. 16-Bryan Mann.

GRANVILLE, Australia – Reigning World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series champion Brad Sweet won the fourth round of Ultimate Sydney Speedweek at Valvoline Raceway on Wednesday.

Sweet grabbed his third victory in four Speedweek races by driving around All Star Circuit of Champions titlist Aaron Reutzel with nine to go in the 35-lap main event.

From there, Sweet was untouchable in his No. 7 American Tire & Racing Service Spike, winning by 1.408 seconds as Reutzel settled for the runner-up honors.

Marcus Dumesny finished third ahead of Jamie Veal, who led the first 21 laps from the pole after topping qualifying, winning his heat race and dominating the pole shuffle.

Carson Macedo was fifth, followed by Sam Walsh, Lynton Jeffrey, Robbie Farr, Jackson Delamont and Ben Atkinson.

American McKenna Haase finally cracked her first Speedweek main event of the winter, finishing 22nd, while Australian World of Outlaws ace Ian Madsen finished a disappointing 23rd after retiring from the main event with seven laps to go from a top-five running spot.

Macedo won the companion Australian Grand Prix Speedcar midget event.

The finish:

Brad Sweet, Aaron Reutzel, Marcus Dumesny, Jamie Veal, Carson Macedo, Sam Walsh, Lynton Jeffrey, Robbie Farr, Jackson Delamont, Ben Atkinson, Danny Reidy, Ryan Jones, Michael Stewart, Daniel Cassidy, Grant Tunks, Daniel Sayre, Warren Ferguson, Troy Little, Thomas Jeffrey, Max Dumesny, Luke Geering, McKenna Haase, Ian Madsen, Shaun Dobson.

HUNTLY, New Zealand – Kyle Larson kicked off the new year with a resounding bang on Wednesday by surging to his first win of the United Truck Parts Int’l Midget Series season.

Larson rolled to victory in a 40-lap main event at Huntly Int’l Speedway after passing fellow American Zach Daum inside of five laps to go.

Daum appeared to be in the driver’s seat for a win, but a late yellow after 35 caution-free laps gave Larson – who started sixth in the feature – a chance to strike.

Once Larson got out front there was no stopping him, as he drove away to secure the victory and left Daum to settle for second. Hayden Williams completed the podium.

Brock Maskovich crossed the line in fourth and Aaron Hodgson was fifth, with another American in 2018 USAC National Midget Series champion Logan Seavey coming in sixth.

Hayden Guptill, Matthew McCutcheon, Jeremy Webb and Kaidon Brown were the balance of the top-10 finishers.

American Chris Windom crossed the line 12th, while New Zealand midget kingpin Michael Pickens was 14th as the last driver on the lead lap.

Teenage sensation Zeb Wise and reigning USAC National Midget Series champion Tyler Courtney failed to finish the main event.

The finish:

Kyle Larson, Zach Daum, Hayden Williams, Brock Maskovich, Aaron Hodgson, Logan Seavey, Hayden Guptill, Matthew McCutcheon, Jeremy Webb, Kaidon Brown, Peter Hunnibell, Chris Windom, Breyton Davison, Michael Pickens, Travis Mills, Hamish Dobbyn, David Pellow, Zeb Wise, Tyler Courtney, Robert Heard, Ryan O’Connor.