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· Last Year's Game - 3-1 to Southampton
· This week - last year
· What happened in the Premiership in Match 18 2003-4
Full Record of Spurs -v- Southampton
Prem Pl W D L For- Ag Pts
Home 12 8 2 2 28 - 12 26
Away 12 2 3 7 8 - 14 9
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Total(Prem) 24 10 5 9 36 - 26 35
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Football Lge
Home(Div 1) 22 13 4 5 52 - 28 38
Away(Div 1) 22 6 8 8 25 - 35 24
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Total(Div 1) 44 19 12 13 77 - 63 62
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Football Lge
Home(Div 2) 14 9 3 2 41 - 12 21
Away(Div 2) 14 2 5 7 12 - 17 9
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Total(Div 2) 28 11 8 9 53 - 29 30
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Total(Prem) 24 10 5 9 36 - 26 35
Total(Div 1) 44 19 12 13 77 - 63 62
Total(Div 2) 28 11 8 9 53 - 29 30
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Grand Total 96 40 25 31 166 -118 127
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Last Six Premiership results:-
Spurs
Spurs 2-3 Charlton
Spurs 4-5 Arsenal
A. Villa 1-0 Spurs
Spurs 2-0 M'brough
Blackburn 0-1 Spurs
Man City 0-1 Spurs
Southampton
S'hampton 2-2 West Brom
S'hampton 2-1 P'tsmouth
Norwich 2-1 S'hampton
S'hampton 2-2 C. Palace
Man Utd 3-0 S'hampton
S'hampton 2-2 M'brough
Pos P W D L F - A GD Pts
11 Spurs 17 6 4 7 16-17 -1 22
19 S'hampton 17 2 7 8 17-26 -9 13
It's time for Spurs to consummate their recovery in front of their loyal home fans, who just about fill the ground week in, week out, and yet have still seen just two victories in 9 games, which includes that solitary home cup game last time out, when Spurs managed to throw away a path to Cardiff, when losing to Liverpool Reserves.
Just over a week ago, most of those home fans would have been relishing this game against an ailing Southampton side who have spent most of the season in the relegation zone. After two successive away wins, we are entitled to believe that the next three games offer us at least 7 points against relegation rivals before facing Everton on New Year's Day. Indeed, I would go as far as to say that less than 7 points would be a failure.
However, we all know only too well how Spurs can come up short of form against struggling sides, and now The Saints have Harry Redknapp in charge, who must have thought he had three points in the bag first time out last week, until two late goals from Middlesbrough. By the time we play on Saturday, Redknapp may have his old buddy Jim Smith at his side, having already taken coach Kevin Bond with him from Pompey.
When we met Saints at White Hart Lane last year, Spurs languished in 17th place, and Southampton were in fifth place. It turned out to be Glenn Hoddle's last game in charge, as we crumbled to an embarrassing 3-1 defeat with Fredi Kanoute scoring our only goal, after Beattie (2) and Gardner (o.g) had already put us three behind. After that result, Saints went fourth, and Spurs slid into the bottom three for the first, but not the last time last season. That was Saints' first win at The Lane in 9 years.
Both these teams were promoted from the old Division Two in 1978, after that famously tense 0-0 at The Dell, and both have remained in the top flight since. Saints are enjoying their longest tenure at the top, whilst Spurs need one more season to equal their longest spell in the "Premier" Division. Of the current Premiership, only 6 teams have enjoyed more seasons than Spurs at the highest level.
Southampton have managed only two wins so far, both at home, firstly to Blackburn, then Portsmouth. They must wait till April for the renewal of their local rivalry, with Harry at the helm! Southampton's last clean sheet in the League was nearly two months ago, against Birmingham, and despite Redknapp's potential influence, everything points to a home win for Spurs, who are odds on favourites, whilst the visitors are as high as 4/1, which are quite phenomenal odds in a two horse race.
It's a bit early for team news, but Reto Ziegler returned to training today, and will be available, whilst Pedro Mendes also trained and would appear to be fit for selection. Erik Edman may also be back, so there will be plenty of competition for those left side places, and plenty of options for Martin Jol, who if he wins on Saturday will find a place even deeper in the hearts of Spurs fans, whose respect for this man is growing all the time. Jermain Defoe returns after suspension to ensure that one of our three top strikers (all in scoring form at the moment) will be left on the bench.
I'll predict a 3-0 win for Spurs, and I'll also predict them to score in the first half hour for the first time in the league this season!
COME ON YOU SPURS!
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