Southampton 2 Spurs 5 (yes, five) and what a win.
An early start for the game, which meant a prompt start for me. Gym, gardening and shower and before you knew it… I was in front of my computer (where I watched the match).
There was one point (at the beginning of the game) I thought, here we go again. Then…
Son scored four goals in a spectacular display as we acquired our first Premier League win of the season (hurray!). Son combined with Kane for all four of his goals as we took control after Danny Ings’ good finish from a tight angle gave Southampton a first-half lead. Son’s first goal came on the stroke of half-time when he ran on to Kane’s pass before driving across McCarthy and into the back of the net.
Second half.
Second half usually means something to eat or drink, but, at this time, I just switched on Radio five live to see what they were saying… and then back to the TV. Sometimes you get fed up with the regular pundits on the box. Same faces, same shit!
Kane and Son opened up Southampton again as we took the lead two minutes after the restart, Kane sending Son through, one-on-one and he made no mistake. Southampton struggled, after initially starting well. They grappled Son’s superbly timed runs behind the defence, and he eventually got his third, racing on to Kane’s clipped pass before slotting in another one. Kane then provided his fourth assist of the day with a brilliant cross for Son, who coolly chiselled McCarthy, before Kane got in on the scoring himself when he stabbed in from close range after Erik Lamela’s shot had been pushed on to the post.
Then a handball, penalty and the referee pointed (a hushed sound came over the stadium…. Which wasn’t really surprising as there was nobody there) – but first a quick check on VAR – and then Ings shot home. This was in stoppage time. It wall all over, bar the shouting… not from the stadium, but our supporters’ homes.
This was a much-needed win for us after an appalling start, where we were beaten 1-0 by Everton. A couple of days later we had a scrappy affair with the Bulgarian side Lokomotiv Plovdiv, which we won 2-1 (after they got 2 of their men sent off). In that match, Alli was Left out and again for the trip to St Mary’s. The reason, according to Mourinho, “too many players” in certain positions.
For a long time in the Southampton game, Mourinho’s courageous move looked destined to be the talking point as we profoundly lacked creativity in midfield.
Aside from a couple of disallowed goals for Kane, we barely troubled the Southampton defence, and even when we did manage to score right before the half-time whistle, it came from our only shot and only touch in Southampton’s box in the entire first half. But… after the break, Kane and Son took control, taking advantaging of Southampton’s high line and slow defence as they showed an understanding that appeared almost telepathic at times. Kane assisted just two league goals in the entirety of last season. Still, nearly every pass he provided in the second half of this game was to set up Son’s goals as he became the first player in Premier League history to assist a single team-mate four times in the same match. Now we’ve got Bale, which means we have the potential for a front three that could rival the very best in the world.
Thoughts
We started off tricky and managed to pull it around. Is our victory over the Saints things to come? I hope so! We’ve got a tricky couple of weeks, and we need all the players we have got… apart from Bale, who will probably be out for a couple of weeks because of his injury, which he got while playing for Wales.
The stats
Since Ralph Hasenhuttl took charge of Southampton in December 2018, his side have squandered more points from winning positions than any other Premier League side (37).
we are now unbeaten in four Premier League games away from home (W2 D2), our longest run without defeat on the road since January 2019 (four straight wins under Mauricio Pochettino).
All of Son’s four goals have been assisted by Harry Kane, the first time a player has assisted another player’s hat-trick since May 2003, when Thierry Henry helped Freddie Ljungberg’s hat-trick for Arsenal against Sunderland.
Southampton striker Danny Ings has netted the opening goal in 11 different Premier League games since the beginning of last season, more than any other player in the competition.
We have failed to keep a clean sheet in each of our last 10 Premier League matches against Southampton, our worst run against a single side since 13 games without a shutout between May 2001 and May 2018 versus Leicester City.
Harry Kane is only the sixth player to assist four goals in a single Premier League game, and the first-ever English player to do so. Kane only assisted two league goals in the entirety of last season.
Danny Ings has either scored (five) or assisted (one) in each of his five appearances against Spurs for Southampton in all competitions, registering more direct goal involvements versus Tottenham than any other side since his move to the Saints.
Son and Harry Kane have combined for more Premier League goals than any other duo in the competition since Son moved to England in August 2015 (24 goals).
Kane is the first player to be directly involved in five goals in one Premier League game (one goal, four assists) since Mohamed Salah versus Watford in March 2018 (four goals, one assist). It is also the second time Kane has managed to do so (also May 2017 versus Leicester).
So, there you have it… now bring on the next game!
What next for us?
Well, we have a trip to Leyton Orient in the League Cup on Tuesday, 22 September (18:00 BST). A couple of days later back to the Europa League and then Premier league football. Another hectic week for us. Which follows on from last weeks hectic games. There is no rest for the wicked (as Mourinho wants to see his players… not nice guys, as nice guys don’t will anything! Amen to that).
COYS!
My name is Glenn Renshaw.
I am currently a Premium Season Ticket holder (West Stand) in the new stadium. Before that – at White Hart Lane – a season ticket holder in various parts of the ground (mainly in the North stand).
Before becoming a season ticket holder, I stood on the shelf and various other parts of the ground since the 1950s. In 1987 I became one of the first to hold a Spurs Membership card. I was also a life long member of the Spurs supporters club (now defunct).
I go to all home, away and abroad matches.
I was born in 1955, Edgware, London (it was in the late 50s – as a baby – that my dad took me to Spurs to initiate me). I currently live in Berkshire.
I also collect all Spurs books (and have everyone printed), Spurs handbooks (from 1920s onwards, Spurs programmes (since the 40s).
Previously, I wrote for Spurs Fanzines: The Spur, Spur of the Moment, My Eyes have seen the Glory and various other Spurs fanzines’. I also wrote for the SpursWeb app & its website.
I currently write and work for spursnetwork.com and its website. I write its Reviews & Match reports and a lot more.
My other interests are; reading, history, social history, Politics, going to the gym, wine, going out for a meal, music (all sorts), writing, theatre, concerts, going on holidays, socialising etc.
I have been writing blogs/ articles since 1989
If you wish to read more of my blog, please click “here”
