Here is Brian Judson's preview of the game

Full Record of Spurs -v- Southampton

Prem         Pl    W   D   L   For- Ag  Pts
Home         10    7   2   1   25 -  8  23
Away         10    2   3   5    8 - 12   9
==========================================
Total(Prem)  20    9   5   6   33 - 20  32
==========================================
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)  20    9   5   6   33 - 20  32
Total(Div 1) 44   19  12  13   77 - 63  62
Total(Div 2) 28   11   8   9   53 - 29  30
==========================================
Grand Total  92   39  25  28  163 -112 124
==========================================

A visit from Southampton is usually a game in which football flows and the goals pile up. This is one of the oldest rivalries in the game as Spurs were playing Southampton for League points 100 years ago when the Southern League ranked equal to the Football League in terms of prominence. But Spurs quit the Southern League for good in the summer of 1908, leaving Southampton behind. The Saints did not join the Football League until 1920 when the old Third Division, which eventually became the Southern Section, was set up. The Saints divided their time between the Second and Third Divisions until they finally gained promotion to the old First Division at the end of season 1965-66. But Southampton could have won promotion before soon after WW2. In 1948-49, Southampton were way out in front of Division 2 and looked certs to go up but collapsed in spectacular fashion.

Southampton have won few honours but did win the FA Cup in 1976, beating Manchester United 1-0, thanks to a Bobby Stokes goal. It was a popular victory as the Saints had been relegated to Division 2 a couple of seasons earlier.

Obviously, the most important game between the two clubs was their final match of the 1977-78 season when both sides needed to avoid defeat to ensure promotion. Not surprisingly, the game ended 0-0 but Spurs could and should have clinched promotion much earlier than they did as they had been in pole position before losing crucial games to Brighton and Sunderland.

There has been a history of enmity between the two clubs since the partnership of Hoddle and Gorman walked out of their positions at Southampton to re-join Tottenham. It didn't help that Hoddle's first target was Dean Richards, who has not proved to be the success he had hoped. Most seasoned watchers would prefer a Gardner/King/Perry back three and omit Richards. Gardner seems to have all the makings of a commanding defender that we have lacked since Mike England walked out on Terry Neill during the 1974-75 season. King looks to be as good a reader of the game as both Phil Beal and Steve Perryman were in the number 6 shirt.

Both sides have largely bought other team's cast-offs recently. Southampton have recently signed Robbie Mustoe from Middlesbrough, thus providing Southampton with a player capable of winning the ball in midfield. We are still without Steffen Freund, the only player in our squad who performs that function.

Southampton have had some useful players in the past. I can remember Martin Chivers playing his early games for Southampton before playing for Tottenham. Another stalwart of Southampton was Mick Channon, now better known as a horse race trainer. Alan Ball wound his career down at the Dell after playing for Blackpool, Everton and Arsenal. And Terry Paine, like Matt Le Tissier, spent all his career with Southampton. How many footballers are THAT loyal to their clubs today?

Spurs have sold two goalkeepers to Southampton in the past. Ron Reynolds was reserve to Ted Ditchburn but lost his sharpness to the long wait for a first team game in the reserves and then needed to use contact lenses to be able to play. Contact lenses were not so efficient in those days and, understandably, he made some expensive mistakes. John Hollowbread was equally unlucky as he was a reserve goalkeeper for as long as Reynolds but enjoyed a season of first team football after injuries to both Ditchburn and Reynolds at the start of the 1958-59 season. He then left for Southampton after Bill Brown was signed and was badly injured whilst playing for Southampton and had to retire.

Of course, the most famous player to have played for both clubs was Alf Ramsey. He made his debut for the Saints during WW2 and transferred to Tottenham during the summer of 1949. Later, he managed Ipswich Town, taking them from the old Third Division (South) to the championship of the Football League. He then managed England from 1963 until 1974, winning the World Cup for England in 1966. England should have also won the World Cup in 1970 as the squad was much stronger than the 1966 one.

Southampton have made an indifferent start to the season whilst Spurs, quite unexpectedly, have made a good start. But we shall have to work really hard to beat the Saints tomorrow. I take us to do so 2-1 but the crucial goal may be very late in coming ......

COME ON YOU SPURS!

Cheers, Brian

· Read the full preview pack for this game.

Follow @spursodyssey