PREMIER LEAGUE
SUNDAY 6TH APRIL, 2025
(2pm)
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 3(2) SOUTHAMPTON 1(0)
Spurs scorers:-
Johnson, 13, 42
Tel (pen), 90+6
Southampton scorer:-
Mateus Fernandes, 90
Attendance:- 60,984
Referee:- Michael Salisbury
Assistants:- Mat Wilkes, Derek Eaton
Fourth official:- Sam Barrott
VAR:- Graham Scott
Assistant VAR:- Natalie Aspinall
Teams:-
Spurs (4-3-3):- 1. Vicario; 23. Pedro Porro, 17. Romero, 33. Davies, 24. Spence; 15. Bergvall (sub 14. Gray, 80), 30. Bentancur (sub 29. Sarr, 57), 10. Maddison (sub 8. Bissouma, 80); 22. Johnson, 19. Solanke (sub 11. Tel, 87), 7. Son (Capt.) (sub 28. Odobert, 57)
(Armband to Romero)
Subs not used:- 31. Kinsky; 13. Udogie, 37. Van de Ven; 9. Richarlison
Booked:- Pedro Porro (foul on Manning)
Southampton (4-2-3-1):- 30. Ramsdale; 2. Walker-Peters, 35. Bednarek (Capt.), 6. Harwood-Bellis, 3. Manning (sub 34. Wellington, 64); 26. Ugochukwu (sub 11. Stewart, 83), 7. Aribo (sub 8. Smallbone, 64); 33. Dibling (sub 16. Sugawara, 73), 18. Mateus Fernandes, 20. Sulemana; 19. Archer (sub 32. Onuachu, 73)
Subs not used:- 1. McCarthy; 5. Stephens, 14. Bree, 37. Bella-Kotchap
Booked:- Ugochukwu (foul on Maddison)
Spurs consign Southampton back to The Championship
Southampton gained an unwanted record by becoming the team relegated earlier than any previous Premier League side with seven games remaining. Spurs gained a third league double of this awful league campaign, which means our 11 league wins have been achieved against just eight of our 19 opponents.
Brennan Johnson re-instated his position as our top league scorer with two well-taken goals which put him into double figures in the Premier League for the first time. After an early scare, Spurs controlled the first half but took their feet off the pedal in the second half, no doubt anticipating Thursday night's Europa League quarter-final against Eintracht Frankfurt.
As I anticipated, Micky van de Ven was rested, although he was on the bench. Richarlison also returned but stayed on the bench. Son Heung-min made his 450th club appearance, becoming only the seventh player in our history to reach that figure.
Southampton played in a pink strip with white numbering. This made it very difficult to identify individuals from my lofty position. Captain Jan Bednarek must have won the toss because he turned us round, so we kicked off and played towards the South Stand. Vicario was therefore exposed fully to the bright sunshine, but "The Saints" rarely ventured into our half. In fact, over the course of the game we didn't see too much action at the North end, as Southampton were allowed to dominate possession for a lot of the second half. At 2-0 down, they had nothing to lose, after all.
Southampton were well-supported, and their fans demonstrated gallows humour at times. One example was "Que sera, sera, whatever will be, will be, we're going to Coventry."
Spurs fans held a pre-match protest against Daniel Levy before the game and the first "We want Levy out" chant came after only 20 seconds of the game. Solanke was down in thee box after one minute following Johnson's cross, but referee Michael Salisbury saw no foul.
Spurs were camped in the Southampton half but giving Ramsdale little to worry about. Johnson had a shot blocked after Son crossed from the left. Ramsdale did save well from a Romero header after Pedro Porro's deep cross. After an exchange with Johnson, Bergvall's shot was too weak to worry the former Arsenal keeper, who was greeted appropriately by the South Stand fans.
That Southampton scare came following a cross from the right, met by Sulemana at the back post. His effort actually rebounded off the post with both Vicario and Pedro Porro challenging for the ball. Spurs responded immediately with a good sweeping move and goal. Djed Spence overlapped Son, and his cross was met by Johnson's powerful left-footed shot into the roof of the net.
There was some ping-pong passing in and around our area before we had a free kick in an attacking position, taken by Son, but which came to nought.
Ramsdale made another save from a Romero header before we thought we had a second goal, but VAR Graham Scott took an age to find a very marginal offside against Romero who had nodded back Pedro Porro's free kick into the path of Bergvall, who thought he had his first Premier League goal. Those South Stand fans occupied themselves with another "We want Levy out" chant. Southampton's fans responded with "You're going down with Southampton."
Johnson did put us two up though with a cleverly taken goal. Solanke had done well in the build-up and after Bentancur's cross, Maddison headed over the defence where Johnson pounced to flick the ball past Ramsdale.
There were seven minutes of added time during which Vicario got down to hold a shot by Mateus Fernandes, and Spence had a shot turned away by Ramsdale.
The second half was played in a remarkably flat atmosphere. Southampton were allowed too much time and space in our half and a number of Spurs passes failed. We will need to play far better on Thursday.
Maddison did find Son down the left with a good ball, but Son's effort was blocked by Bednarek, before our captain was one of two players to be replaced. Postecoglou used all his substitutes in the second half. Odobert replaced Son and Sarr came on for Bentancur.
There was some excitement when Solanke powered his way to the box and saw his shot saved and pushed away to his left by Ramsdale. Ramsdale chased the ball and actually handled it outside his area on the left side. Spurs were awarded a free kick, but nothing came of that.
Bergvall showed skill on both touchlines to retain the ball and develop the move. Vicario was down at his post to save from Sulemana. At the other end, sub Bissouma broke clear and sent a good ball to Solanke, whose shot was off target. Vicario had to save again, this time from Sugawara. It came as no surprise to see Southampton score after Sulemana crossed from the left and Mateus Fernandes was allowed to bring the ball under control before hitting the net.
Four minutes of added time were announced, but that was extended when Odobert advanced in the middle and fed the ball to Johnson who was fouled by Wellington. The referee's decision was ratified by VAR and Mathys Tel stepped up and stuttered his run to hit the net and record his first club goal.
All eyes turn to Thursday night's game at home to Frankfurt.
. Squad numbers,appearances,bookings & goalscorers
. Read the preview for this game.
. All the Spurs Stats you could hope for here! THFC6061 Sports Stats
