Southampton vs Tottenham a few quick thoughts
Dan Tracey
December 29, 2016
1,722 Views
- Going into this game the pressure was certainly on Tottenham to deliver a win what with the rest of the Top 6 all picking up maximum points over the last few days
- A win was needed to not only keep pace with Arsenal but to keep their distance between themselves and Manchester United in 6th
- And it would turn out to be a near perfect trip to the South Coast for Spurs as they eased past Southampton last night
- It would prove to be a happy return for Mauricio Pochettino to St Mary’s as his side ran out 4-1 winners but Spurs didn’t quite have the start that they would have wanted
- That’s because they were 1-0 down without 90 seconds thanks to a Virgil Van Dijk header
- The ex Celtic Defender who is seemingly in demand when the transfer window opens next month leaped above Eric Dier to arrow a header past Hugo Lloris and give Southampton the lead
- Lloris who turned 30 on Boxing Day could probably have been accused of a bit too much birthday cake as he was slow to react to Van Dijk’s header which put the home side ahead
- The visitors then had there work cut out if they were to get a foothold in the game and for the first 15 minutes or so they struggled to do so as Claude Puel’s side started the far brighter
- But eventually Spurs started to ease their way into the game with the balance of play shifting in their favour
- And for the second game in a row Dele Alli would be on hand to level proceedings after Spurs going behind
- Last week it was an equaliser against Burnley and last night it was a header of his own which leveled proceedings half way through the first half
- If Van Dijk was excellent in the air for Southampton’s opener then he was caught cold for Alli’s effort and both he Fraser Forster produced a fantastic effort for the Mannequin Challenge as Alli was afforded the time and space to level
- That goal gave Mauricio Pochettino’s men an extra impetus and it was another former Southampton old boy that nearly gave Spurs the lead just before the break
- Victor Wanyama jinking run in the box opened up space for him to shoot but he was just dispossessed before the trigger was about to be pulled
- A let off for Southampton as the two sides went into the break level
- But that parity would come to and end soon after the restart as the game saw it’s third headed goal
- This time Harry Kane measured header was expertly placed past the long reach of Fraser Forster to turn the game on it’s head and give Tottenham the lead for the first time
- If that game was the turning point then minutes later the game would be turned on it’s head
- A contentious penalty decision from Mike Read not only gave Spurs the perfect opportunity to wrap the game up but it also saw The Saints reduced to 10 men
- Moussa Sissoko’s inch perfect pass played Dele Alli clear and the England international was then in a race with Nathan Redmond
- With the move starting outside the box, Bertrand was somewhat clumsy as he placed an arm over Alli
- With Redmond’s momentum then seeing him stumble into the box he took down Alli as the former MK Dons man edged a shot wide
- But Mike Dean had seen enough to not only award a penalty but also a red card to Redmond
- In my opinion it was a harsh red card for Redmond and you do have to question whether it was a spot kick
- Perhaps the fact that the final foul was in the box was enough for Redmond to be given his marching orders
- Tottenham were then presented with the chance to wrap up the result
- But Harry Kane was in a festive mood as he ballooned his spot kick over the bar
- Kane looked at the penalty spot which had then moved out of the ground, if you ask me someone has nobbled that with a watering can as there’s no way a Premier League ground should have a pitch defect like that
- With Southampton let off the hook and feeling somewhat aggrieved they then threw everything at Spurs to try and get an equaliser
- Claude Puel made a triple substitution to roll the dice and for the next 10 minutes or so Southampton certainly made it nervy for the visitors
- Hugo Lloris was tested with a lot of high balls into the box but he was assured in everything that was thrown his way as Spurs rode out that wave of pressure
- And with Southampton deflated the extra man on the pitch was but to good use by Spurs
- With Southampton tiring, Hueng-min Son was bought on to stretch the Saints backline and that is exactly what he did
- Soon after coming on the South Korean made it 3-1 to wrap up all three points
- But the goals wouldn’t stop there with Southampton now deflated and their fans heading to the stand there was still time for Dele Alli to add his second of the game and add the gloss to a well earned win
- Going into this game Southampton had the third meanest defence and Tottenham had been accused of not being clinical enough in front of goal
- Well that certainly was not the case last night as The Saints were ran ragged once Tottenham woke up from their early slumber
- The only blot on Tottenham’s copy book will be the yellow cards for both Kyle Walker and Jan Vertonghen which means they are both suspended for the New Years Day trip to Watford
- That means their could be a scramble around for defensive personnel what with Toby Alderweireld’s absence last night. But with him only suffering from a cold then you would imagine he would be fit for Sunday
- With at least one of Manchester City and Liverpool dropping points on Saturday due to their head to head then it is the ideal opportunity for Spurs to close the gap on the teams above them
- It makes Watford a must win game but then again every game is a must win game right now
- For Southampton that defeats sees them stay in 8th place and a new forward in the January transfer window must be a priority
- They may be tight at the back but they are only averaging a goal a game this season
- That may be ok if Virgil Van Dijk is marshalling the defence but if he goes then their propensity to win games 1-0 then disappears and then the need for goals because even more of a priority
- You get the feeling that the league table is now finding it’s natural balance with the Top 6 all but sewn up
- The same could be said about the middle and bottom 7 sides
- Therefore Southampton may have to look to cup success if they are to have a third successive appearance in the Europa League next season
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