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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
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Total(Prem) 21 10 5 6 35 - 21 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) 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
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Grand Total 93 40 25 28 165 -113 127
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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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