This preview was written by Brian Judson

Full League Record of Spurs -v- Southampton

Premier        Pl   W   D   L   For-Ag  Pts
Home            6   4   1   1    13-5   13
Away            7   1   3   3     7-9    6
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Total (Prem)   13   5   4   4    20-14  19
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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)   13   5   4   4    20-14  19
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    85  35  24  26   150-106 111
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It has been a pretty dismal season for Southampton by any standard you care to match them against for comparison. They had one of the worst starts to a season that I can remember. The last such poor start to a season was in 1984-85 when Stoke City finished rock bottom of the old First Division and Stoke have not figured in top flight football since then. They are currently in the equivalent of the old Third Division, an experience that must worry Southampton in their current predicament.

In David Jones, Southampton have a genuinely likeable manager, who is used to working with free transfers and players of that ilk. Not for him the pleasure of being entrusted with a King's ransom to seek the best players in the world. Even in they heyday Southampton have never been able to spend as freely as other clubs have thrown money around as if it was confetti being thrown at a wedding.

Spurs share with Everton the honour of inflicting a record defeat on Southampton. Spurs thrashed Southampton 8-0 on 28 March 1936 when both clubs were in the old Second Division. It was one of the very few highlights in a disappointing season for Tottenham, their first back in Division Two after relegation.

The teams were:

Tottenham Hotspur : Nicholls; Ward, Buckingham; Howe, Rowe, Grice; Sargent, Meek, G Hunt, Duncan, W Evans.

Southampton : Scriven; Adams, Sillett; King, Bradford, Woodhouse; Neal, Tully, Gurry, Holt, Fishlock.

Referee : Mr J M Wiltshire

Attendance : 29,732

Spurs had failed to win the preceding four games before this match which effectively ended their hope of bouncing back to the First Division after only one season's absence. The manager, Jack Tresarden, who was not popular with the fans on the terraces, had started to rebuild the side after a traumatic relegation season. Grice and Meek had been given their debuts the week before and Ward, who was to be a regular during the war years, had made his second appearance for the club.

Spurs only needed six minutes to go ahead before Willie Evans, whose career was shortly to end, blasted them ahead. Seven minutes later, Meek volleyed home a shot after Southampton failed to clear Sargent's corner. Three more minutes and Tottenham were 3-0 ahead. Hunt was the scorer after Grice and Willie Evans had swapped passes to give him the chance to score. Four minutes before half time, Scriven fumbled a shot from Hunt and the ball slipped over the line. As the referee looked at his watch, Meek fired Spurs 5-0 ahead.

Spurs' sixth goal came in the 59th minute when Scriven failed to hold a shot from Hunt and Meek was left with a simple tap-in chance. Hunt then scored from a penalty in the 65th minute after he had been tripped by Bradford. Willie Evans completed the rout in the 78th minute when he headed home a cross from Sargent.

This was Spurs' record score in the League until they beat Everton 10-4 on 11 October 1958. But in terms of the disparity between the goals scored and conceded, I think this remains the record League score as although Spurs beat Nottingham Forest 9-2 on 29 September 1962, the disparity there is only 7 goals. The overall record, of course, is Spurs 13 Crewe 2 on 3 February 1960.

Southampton were one of the more prominent members of the Southern League who remained with that League until after they successfully applied to form a Third Division of the Football League in the summer of 1920. Southampton gained promotion to the old Second Division at the end of season 1921-22. They remained in that Division until the end of season 1952-53 when they were relegated to the old Third Division (South). They had been comfortably positioned throughout their thirty years in membership of that Division, rarely being in the thick of either end of the table's dog-eat-dog fight for promotion or relegation.

The one exception to that was 1948-49. As the race entered the last lap, Southampton were miles ahead in the League but Charlie Wayman, their main striker, was injured at a crucial point of the season. Southampton fell away badly and could only finish third, two points behind champions Fulham and a point behind West Bromwich Albion. Spurs played a crucial part in this as they could only draw against Fulham, 1-1, in the final game of the season, which handed Fulham the point they needed for the title. WBA beat Barnsley 2-0 to leapfrog over Southampton, who crashed 1-0 at Chesterfield.

Southampton had to wait until 1959-60 to regain membership of the old Second Division when they pipped Norwich City to the championship by two points. Six years later, Southampton climbed into the old First Division for the very first time.

I remember Southampton's first game at Tottenham in 1966-67 as a First Division club. We won 5-3 in a ding dong game that ended our dismal six week run of results after we had topped the League table after winning 2-1 at Manchester City in early October. Martin Chivers was very impressive in a very lively Southampton side. I believe it was following that match that Spurs began to grow interested in acquiring Chivers.

Southampton were very unlucky to be relegated in 1973-74 as that was the first season of three-up three down. They remained in the old Second Division until they were promoted as runners-up to Bolton Wanderers in 1977-78.

No one connected with Spurs at that time will ever forget the final game of that campaign. Spurs required a 0-0 or 1-1 draw to be promoted and Brighton needed to score 10 goals and hope Spurs lost to beat Tottenham to third place. I remember my first ex-wife listened to the radio for me that afternoon as I paced the living room of our flat like a caged tiger who had not eaten for months. (Ed: Brian was suffered from acute loss of hearing) I spent the last four minutes on my hands and knees with fingers crossed praying we would not concede a goal. I never want to endure that particular agony again!!!!!

Since then, Southampton, like Spurs, have remained in the top flight of football. Southampton have often flirted with relegation but have usually managed to haul themselves to safety. This year they might go to the well once too often .....

Spurs may well be feeling tired after the run of fixtures they have had over the last few weeks. They will also need to take into account the fact they will be playing a cup tie at Barnsley on the following Saturday. I would not be surprised if crucial members of the team are rested to ensure they are fresh for the match at Barnsley. Even with a weakened team, I still expect Spurs to beat Southampton, possibly by 2-0.

Cheers, Brian

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