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This preview was written by Brian Judson

Full League Record of Spurs -v- Southampton

Premier        Pl   W   D   L   For-Ag  Pts
Home            8   6   1   1    23-8   19
Away            8   2   3   3     8-9    9
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Total (Prem)   16   8   4   4    31-17  28
===========================================
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
===========================================
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
===========================================
Total (Prem)   16   8   4   4    31-17  28
Total(Div 1)   44  19  12  13    77-63  62
Total(Div 2)   28  11   8   9    53-29  30
===========================================
Grand Total    88  38  24  26   161-109 120
===========================================

Tottenham travel to the Dell on Wednesday, hoping to end their long sequence without an away win. They have not won away since beating Leicester City, 1-0, at Filbert Street, in April. Ginola was the scorer in that match.

Traditionally, Tottenham rarely play well at the Dell. Perhaps it is the cramped pitch but whatever it is there is something about the Dell that does not agree with Tottenham. Last season, however, we completed the Double over the Saints, winning 1-0 at the Dell, Leonhardsen scoring our goal, and winning the return, at Tottenham, 7-2. Iversen grabbed 3, Armstrong 2, Anderton and Dean Richards, who scored an own goal, completed the rout. The previous season we had drawn 1-1 at the Dell, Fox scoring our goal, and won the return game 3-0, Armstrong, Iversen and Dominguez scoring.

The most important game played between the two clubs took place on 29th April 1977 when both needed to avoid defeat to secure promotion after the last game in the old Second Division. The result was 0-0 but there had been chances for Tottenham to nick a winner but no one complained about the result!

Southampton are one of Tottenham's oldest rivals. We first played them in Southern League days as long ago as September 1897 when we beat Southampton 2-0 at Northumberland Park. We lost the return game 4-1. Both clubs (with Portsmouth) dominated the Southern League. The three clubs were probably the strongest teams in the South.

We lost touch with Southampton when we were elected to the Football League during the close season of 1908 and did not play them again until 1928-29 when we were relegated to Division 2 and found Southampton there. They had joined the Football League in the summer of 1920 when the Southern League First Division had applied en bloc to join the Football League. Southampton were the second Champions of the old Third Division (South) and remained in the Second Division until they were relegated at the end of season 1952-53. Since then Southampton have shuttled up and down the ladder. Their only major honour was achieved when they won the FA Cup in 1976, beating Manchester United, 1-0, at Wembley, in the FA Cup Final.

In recent years, Southampton have flirted with relegation but have managed to fight their way clear in the closing weeks of the season. For many years now, they have been searching for a site for a new ground as they have realised the compactness of the Dell is a hindrance towards progression in the Premier League. Only Wimbledon recorded lower attendances than Southampton. A site has, at long last, been found so we will probably soon be making our last visit to the Dell, possibly next season. (In fact THIS season Southampton are saying goodbye to the Dell - Ed)

Like many other clubs, Southampton have had to fight their local council, which is why it has taken so long to achieve their ambition of a new ground.

I am writing these lines before the game against Middlesbrough so I am unable to take that game into account in predicting the outcome of Wednesday's match. Hopefully, we will have beaten Middlesbrough and will then go on to beat Southampton. I think we can win there, hopefully 2-0, but we must maintain our concentration, especially in the closing minutes of the match!

COME ON YOU SPURS!

Cheers, Brian

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