- Oct 17, 2006
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SPURS 2-1 SOUTHAMPTON
Bale, Son Ings
Bale, Son Ings
Spurs: Lloris (c), Aurier, Alderweireld, Dier, Reguilon, Hojbjerg, Lo Celso (Lamela), Ndombele (Winks), Bale (Bergwijn), Lucas, Son.
Subs: Hart, Sanchez, Tanganga, Sissoko, Dele, Vinicius.
Southampton: McCarthy, Walker-Peters, Bednarek, Vestergaard, Salisu, Ward-Prowse (c), Armstrong, Tella, Walcott, Adams, Ings.
Subs: Forster, Stephens, Diallo, Ferry, Jankewitz, Minamino, Redmond, Djenepo, Nlundulu.
Official Site Match Centre
Three changes from the draw at Everton with Lo Celso, Bale and Lucas coming in for Rodon, Sissoko and the injured Kane.
REFEREE: ---- --- David Coote ???????
TEAM FORM: --- Spurs - LWDLD ------ Southampton - LWWLL -------------(All competitions)
Amid fury and condemnation from us the supporters over our involvement in the European Super League, we begin life after Jose when we welcome Southampton to North London in Wednesday's Premier League clash. We could only take a point from a 2-2 draw with Everton on Friday evening, whereas Southampton's FA Cup journey ended at the hands of Leicester City in the semi-finals. Mere hours after announcing our involvement in the controversial European Super League, we confirmed that Jose Mourinho's tumultuous time in our dugout had come to an end, just six days before we bid to end our trophy drought in the EFL Cup final. If threats by football's governing bodies are anything to go by, we will not be plying our trade in the Premier League for much longer, so interim coach Ryan Mason must make the remainder of the league campaign count if we do indeed join football's superpowers in the breakaway European Super League.
Our recent performances have not personified that of a leading continental club, though, with us now winless in three Premier League matches and relying on the brilliance of Kane to propel us to a point at Goodison Park last time out. Kane was on hand to capitalise on two lapses of concentration from Everton's defence, but former Lilywhites playmaker Sigurdsson was the thorn in Mourinho's side on Merseyside as his brace ensured that the spoils were shared on Friday. We were not best pleased with the club's announcement of their European Super League plans - an act which rubbed salt into the wounds after we witnessed Kane limp off injured against Everton - and Mourinho leaves us are five points adrift with seven games left to play. However, we did manage to string together a three-game winning streak at home before Manchester United came, saw and conquered, and Mourinho has departed before running the risk of losing 10 home games at a single club for the first time ever, so 29-year-old Mason is under enormous pressure to spark an immediate revival in the capital.
We will travel to Wembley for the EFL Cup final on April 25, but Southampton's trip to the home of English football ended in dismay at the weekend, as they side bowed out of the FA Cup at the semi-final stage following a 1-0 defeat to Leicester City. The prolific Iheanacho struck the game's only goal in front of 4,000 fans on Sunday evening, and any faint hopes of Southampton ending the season on a high now rests solely on their Premier League fortunes, which will not inspire much confidence within the ranks either. Hasenhuttl's side were firmly in the European conversation during the earliest stages of the campaign, but their torrid turnaround in fortunes sees them occupy 14th spot in the table, and they are not entirely safe just yet as nine points separate them from 18th-placed Fulham, who have played two games more. The Saints have suffered defeat in 11 of their last 14 top-flight matches, including seven of their last eight away from home, and their tally of 10 points from 15 matches since the turn of the year is the fewest out of all 20 Premier League clubs, although an easing injury list should help Hasenhuttl steer his side away from the unforeseen threat of relegation.
Head to Head
We have played each other 198 times starting with our first game on 29th March 1897. We have played 11 times in the FA Cup where we have won 4 ties, they won 3 and we drew 4 times. The League cup twice where we won both of them. We also won the Screen Sport Super cup in twice in Oct 1985 and Dec 1985. The rest were in the league whether Premier, 1st Division, Southern League or Western League (14 times).
Team News
Kane and Son must still feature in the nightmares of Southampton supporters after their deadly double act in September's 5-2 win for us, and we have come up trumps in eight of our last nine home games against the Saints - most recently losing 2-1 in May 2016.
It would take a brave soul to confidently predict how Mason will opt to line up for his first game in charge, but he will almost certainly be without top scorer Harry Kane, who could reportedly miss up to three weeks with his ankle problem. Mason could therefore decide to bring Vinicius back into the fold after he was dropped by Mourinho for tactical reasons against Everton, but Moura is another option for us.
With Mason having just six days to prepare for an EFL Cup final, further rotation could be on the cards as Lo Celso, Winks and Tanganga hope to impress under new leadership. Bale will hope to be handed a new lease of life now that Mourinho has been relieved of his duties, and he ought to feel confident about his chances of starting against his former club this week
Southampton will welcome Minamino back to the fold after he was ineligible for the FA Cup, and the Liverpool loanee will likely battle Walcott for the chance to replace Djenepo out wide. Nthan Redmond was given the nod up top in the cup, but he was hooked just before the hour mark for Che Adams and will likely relinquish his spot to the Scotland international here.
Smallboe, Romeu and Obafemi all remain out of contention, and Hasenhuttl may be tempted to bring Alex McCarthy back in goal after Forster let in three against West Bromwich Albion, but the latter should keep his place for now.
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