Premier League: Southampton 0 Tottenham Hotspur 5 (Maddison 1, 45+4; Son 12; Kulusevski 14; Sarr 25)
As a battle of the Premier League’s two most idealistic managers, it registered as a no-contest. Such was the dominance of Ange Postecoglou’s version of the glory game over Southampton’s it ended up being a question of exactly when Russell Martin’s misguided evangelism will be discontinued. And not if. Saints’ main contribution to any free-flowing, inventive football was letting Spurs play exactly as they liked.
In prematch, there had been insurrection in the ranks of the away support, calling for the departure of Daniel Levy after the chairman was spotted in the stands. If there are doubts in Postecoglou, the fault lines between fan and boardroom run far deeper. Two seasons ago, on Tottenham’s previous Premier League visit to St Mary’s, a rancorous 3-3 draw had preceded Antonio Conte kissing off with a post-match rant for the ages, leaving Levy and the club’s executive class’s ears burning as he took his leave.
Though such matters will always simmer at Spurs, Sunday night on the south coast ended up a night where the medleys were given a good airing, a highly enjoyable holiday from the eternal existentialism of being English football’s most mercurial club. If Southampton were easy prey, particularly during a deluge of goals in the first half, then Spurs’ stars rose to the occasion. There was even a role to play for a forgotten man in a first Tottenham win since Saints’ fellow Premier League whipping boys, Manchester City, were beaten 4-0 on November 23rd.
Not that it much mattered in the first half but Tottenham’s defensive selection looked decidedly makeshift. At right-back, Djed Spence was making his first Premier League start since joining from Middlesbrough in August 2022. Can a previously discarded relic from the Conte era still provide an instant impact? Such a question was raised by Spence marching through the aching gap in Saints’ midfield and laying up James Maddison to score after 38 seconds.
Martin had made four changes after defeat against Aston Villa and was almost immediately having to climb from his bench to deliver admonishment and encouragement. His team’s reputation as a soft touch with poor levels of concentration precedes itself, and was augmented by a truly hapless and hopeless first 45. No Sunday songs of praise for Saints. The home boos rang out once Spurs scored their second, abuse of Martin and his football clearly audible when Son Heung-min slotted after Maddison’s ball had been helped on by Jan Bednarek.
A chorus of “We want Martin out” followed two minutes later as the third came. Son’s cross found Dominic Solanke and Bednarek could only divert the ball to Dejan Kulusevksi. If home fans had seen enough then so had their manager. His immediate tactical sub of Kamaldeen Sulemana for a defender in Nathan Wood led to a touchline row between hooked player and desperate boss. Having completed five from six passes, the Ghanaian was perhaps only guilty of being the closest player to Martin. Eventually sat in a cushioned seat, he glowered with hurt pride.
As did those Saints fans who barrelled to the exit as Pape Sarr scored the fourth by the 25th minute. The stands emptying, the rest sat either dumbfounded or cursing rank ineptitude. Meanwhile, Martin could only stand, isolated, aware that, like Steve Cooper last month, and Gary O’Neil earlier on Sunday, when a manager’s number is up, it’s usually public opinion that delivers the felling blow.
Martin had headed down the tunnel before the half-time whistle came and thus missed Maddison scoring the fifth from a tight angle, and the dark, rancorous reception it received.
Would he quit at half-time? Anything seemed possible. Martin’s reappearance just as the second half began was to low-level boos. By contrast, the Tottenham keeper Fraser Forster, a former Saint, was given warm applause. Spurs fans meanwhile sang the praises of their manager, whose team, when they get it right, give them much to sing about.
To Saints’ credit, with Tyler Dibling, the teenage prodigy, leading the charge, and those fans who remained finding their voice, there was a visible improvement. With Manchester United and the Carabao Cup in mind, Spurs did not go further for the throat, and the scoreline’s lack of jeopardy meant Lucas Bergvall could be left to gain further experience in midfield. Archie Gray’s all-round talents are being tested by a spell as a centre back. He looked just as composed as he has in midfield and at full-back.
Spence, subbed off, left the field to a standing ovation from those fans who had waited so long to see him. Southampton’s fans recovered their humour by reaching for the sarcasm, every completed pass receiving an olé, and even laughter when Mateus Fernandes scored an offside goal. Not that the gallows humour spared Martin. He can only have been too aware of the songs calling for his head and that his team’s first-half performance probably damns him. – Guardian
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