Consent Preferences Spurs Odyssey - Preview Southampton v Spurs - 01.01.03
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Preview Southampton v Spurs, 01.01.03

Here is Brian Judson's preview of the game


Full Record of Spurs -v- Southampton

Prem         Pl    W   D   L   For- Ag  Pts
Home         11    8   2   1   27 -  9  26
Away         10    2   3   5    8 - 12   9
==========================================
Total(Prem)  21   10   5   6   35 - 21  35
==========================================
Football Lge
Home(Div 1)  22   13   4   5   52 - 28  38
Away(Div 1)  22    6   8   8   25 - 35  24
==========================================
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
==========================================
Total(Div 2) 28   11   8   9   53 - 29  30
==========================================
Total(Prem)  21   10   5   6   35 - 21  35
Total(Div 1) 44   19  12  13   77 - 63  62
Total(Div 2) 28   11   8   9   53 - 29  30
==========================================
Grand Total  93   40  25  28  165 -113 127
==========================================

Wednesday's match is the return game for that played on Saturday, 31st August, when we won 2-1, to retain our top of the table position. Our goalscorers were Ferdinand, who had fired us ahead and Sheringham, who scored an injury time penalty. Southampton's goal came after Taricco had conceded an own goal under pressure from Beattie. Before the game, Robbie Keane was introduced to the crowd, having transferred from Leeds. We then enjoyed a week at the top of the table because of the break for internationals. Such were the balmy hazy days of August!

Southampton have performed much better this season. Beattie has returned to form and has been scoring goals consistently. Gordon Strachan is developing a very nice looking side so it remains to be seen how they will progress.

Spurs and Southampton are old rivals from the days when both competed in the Southern League. They comprised with Portsmouth the Big Three since they were always there or thereabouts. Spurs only won the Southern League once - in 1899-1900 - and they were the last non-League side to win the FA Cup. But Southampton were the last non-League club to reach the FA Cup Final. They were original members of the old Division 3 (South) but quickly won promotion to Division 2 and enjoyed membership of that Division from September 1922 until April 1953.

The Saints looked set to be promoted at the end of season 1948-49. With six week left, the Saints were well out in front of the field but inexplicably cracked in the home straight to finish behind Fulham and West Bromwich Albion. The Saints had to wait until season 1965-66 before they finally secured promotion to Division 1, when they were promoted as runners-up to Manchester City. They were unlucky enough to be relegated on the inception of three-up, three-down, being relegated with Manchester United (the rejoicing was loud!) and Norwich City.

Their stay downstairs was brief as we all remember 29th April 1978 when we needed a point to secure our own promotion to Division 1 and had to play the Saints at the Dell in our final game. I don't think I ever want to face a more nail-biting situation than that match!

Since then, both Saints and Spurs have been continuously in the top flight, although both clubs have had flirtations with the trap door of relegation!

There have been players who have been associated with both clubs. Spurs signed Alf Ramsey from the Saints at the end of the 1948-49 season. In 1966, we swapped Frank Saul for Martin Chivers, at a then record fee of 125K ukp. And there has been the controversial signing of Dean Richards, which, coming on top of Hoddle and Gorman walking out on the Saints, so upset Rupert Lowe, their Chairman.

Our first game with Southampton in the old First Division in season 1966-67 is the game that sticks out most in my memory of them all. (I was not at the Dell the day we secured promotion.) We had just lost three consecutive home games, which ultimately cost us the title and a second Double. We won 5-3 with two goals from Cliff Jones, a penalty from Greaves, who had missed one in the previous home game, and Mullery and Mackay. But I was feasting my eyes on Martin Chivers, watching his lazy strides through Tottenham's defence. I was wishing he could be in our colours ....

And so to thinking about the outcome of Wednesday's match. Neither team have any hopes of honours in the League and are not seriously distracted by the relegation battle. As both clash in the FA Cup at the weekend, they will want to keep their powder dry as the FA Cup represents their last chance of tangible honours this season. I take the game to finish as a draw, possibly 0-0 or 1-1, with both sides saving themselves for the Cup.

COME ON YOU SPURS!

Cheers, Brian

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