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Full Record of Spurs -v- Southampton

Prem         Pl    W   D   L   For- Ag  Pts
Home         14   10   2   2   34 - 13  32
Away         14    3   3   8   10 - 16  12
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Total(Prem)  28   13   5  10   44 - 29  44
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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)  28   13   5  10   44 - 29  44
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 100   43  25  32  174 -121 136
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Last Six Premier League results:-

Southampton - WLLLDD

S'hampton  4-1   Hull
Arsenal    2-0   S'hampton
Chelsea    3-1   S'hampton
S'hampton  2-3   A. Villa
S'hampton  1-1   Man City
Newcastle  1-1   S'hampton

Spurs - LLDWWL

Spurs      0-1   Newcastle
Man City   6-0   Spurs
Spurs      2-2   Man Utd
Fulham     1-2   Spurs
S'derland  1-2   Spurs
Spurs      0-5   Liverpool

Pos          P   W  D  L   F-A   GD  Pts
7. Spurs     16  8  3  5  15-21  -6   27
9. S'hampton 16  6  6  4  20-15   5   24

Every game is tough now for Spurs

Every game is tough now for a Spurs side slipping out of contention for a top four place, and at risk of slipping further down the table if defeated on Sunday at The St. Mary's Stadium.

Yes, of course, Spurs are still within reach of the hallowed end of the Premier League table, but to look like contenders again, they need to bounce back starting with this game. There are a number of obstacles in the path of Tim Sherwood's Spurs.

Sherwood expressed uncertainty about his status after the Capital One Cup defeat against West Ham, but he has been asked to look after the club, at least for this game. The very fact that he and the players cannot look, or see beyond this one game, is in itself unsettling. Then there is the problem of key players missing through injury. Jan Vertonghen's absence is being sorely missed in a defence that has been all astray for most of the time they've been without him. I have no date for Sandro's return from his latest injury, but we can only hope he will be able to add some beef to the midfield against "Saints". It would be much needed.

Now Andros Townsend has gone down with a hamstring that will keep him out of action for several weeks, but his is a place where Spurs do have options. Erik Lamela is one of these, and one wonders what Sherwood's thought processes were leaving the club record signing out of even the 18 for the West Ham game. Was it to keep him back for Sunday? Lamela has shown some sublime touches on a few occasions so far in his brief Spurs experience, and I hold out hope that he could still be a major star for the team. Ossie Ardiles expressed such faith earlier in the season, after all.

Michael Dawson will be back after his one-match suspension, but Paulinho is only one third of the way through his enforced absence. A least the defence will start a little stronger than it did last week against Liverpool, with Walker, Dawson, Chiriches and Danny Rose in front of Lloris. That would release Etienne Capoue to play in a more favoured central midfield position next to Dembele (or Sandro if available). Stop press - Sandro will be available!

Sherwood will surely revert to a more cautious formation and style for this game, with perhaps Christian Eriksen (who is fit) getting the nod at "number 10", where he is capable of that telling pass into the danger area. Soldado must be favourite out of the three strikers to be the main intended recipient of such passes.

Another obstruction is the rise of Southampton under their Argentine coach Mauricio Pochettino. Their recent form has not been so good, as they haven't won in their last five games, but they have faced difficult opposition, and certainly haven't folded in any game, unlike Spurs. For example, "Saints" recently drew 1-1 at home to Manchester City, and when they went to Anfield in September, they won 1-0! What Spurs wouldn't give for those results in our games against those two sides.

Pochettino has been mooted as one of the contenders for the Spurs job, and since his appointment at Southampton, they have certainly made progress. They rose up the table and out of the relegation battle after his appointment in January. Three consecutive wins in March and April, one of which was over his predecessor Nigel Adkins' new club Reading, kept them away from trouble.

Until their recent dip in form, Southampton under Pochettino could even be found in the top four. Three of Pochettino's squad have even made it to the England set-up, with Rickie Lambert, Jay Rodriguez and Adam Lallana all being capped by Roy Hodgson. Lambert, in fairness, was recognised at International level under Adkins charge at Southampton.

It is no co-incidence that those three England Internationals, plus the Italian striker Osvaldo, are the club's top league scorers, with Rodriguez(6) leading the way over Lambert(4), then Lallana and Osvaldo (both 3).

Spurs gained their first ever win at The St. Mary's Stadium last season witha 2-1 win and goals from former Saint Gareth Bale and Clint Dempsey. Bale also scored the solitary goal in our home win in early May.

Spurs have now played 100 league games against Southampton and in recent years have a poor record on their turf. Horrible memories of defeats at The Dell and in the early years at the new stadium come all too easily to mind. A win would take Southampton back above us on goal difference. (Nearly everyone in the league has a better goal difference than us!)

Saints' number one goalkeeper Artur Boruc is absent with a fractured bone in his hand, and 21 year old Argentine Paolo Gazzaniga has stepped up in recent games.

Can Spurs win their 101st league game against Southampton? It's impossible or even stupid to be optimistic about our chances at this moment, and I am going to predict a 1-1 draw. I obviously hope for better.

Sunday's match referee will be Chris Foy (not Hoy, and not one of Spurs' fans' favourites after a debacle at Stoke a couple of years ago)

· 15 years ago on December 19th, Spurs lost 2-0 at Stamford Bridge in a Premier League game

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