Tottenham Hotspur beat bottom-placed Southampton 5-0 on Sunday, scoring five goals in the first half of the Premier League for the first time in history.
James Maddison scored twice, the first after 36 seconds and the second at half-time, while Son Heung-min, Dejan Kulusevski and Papu Matarza I also scored goals.
Many fans left before half-time as Southampton collapsed, although those who stayed at least saw their team regain a modicum of pride in the second half.
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The win was a welcome boost for Spurs, who have picked up just one point from their last three league games. They moved up to 10th place with 23 points from 16 games.
Southampton’s 13th league defeat of the season leaves the team with five points, just nine points from safety, and looks destined for a swift return to the Championship.
Some supporters expressed their displeasure with coach Russell Martin, with one fan unfurling a banner calling for him to be sacked, which he was eventually sacked.
Some supporters expressed their displeasure with coach Russell Martin, with one fan unfurling a banner calling for him to be sacked, which he was eventually sacked. |Image source: Getty Images
Some supporters expressed their displeasure with coach Russell Martin, with one fan unfurling a banner calling for him to be sacked, which he was eventually sacked. |Image source: Getty Images
“I was injured in the first half. As a group, we didn’t respond very well to the setback,” Martin said. “I didn’t recognize our team in the first half. It was a tough night.
“We have no choice but to work and fight, and that’s all I’ve done since I’ve been on this job.”
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Confident Spurs
Injury-plagued Tottenham have looked vulnerable in recent weeks, winning just one of eight games in all competitions, while Southampton may have sensed an opportunity.
But from the moment Jed Spence’s superb pass set up Maddison to score Alex McCarthy’s opener, confidence was back, although Saints’ shocking first-half performance had helped them. .
Son Heung-min scored in the second quarter after 12 minutes when Southampton failed to keep out a cross, and a few minutes later the Korean’s pass fell to Kulusevski from close range. Field goal.
The stands at St Mary’s soon emptied out as Sarr showed some fine footwork after controlling Son Heung-min’s pass to score Tottenham’s fourth goal.
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Maddison scored his second goal in first-half stoppage time, catching Son Heung-min’s pass and firing into the top corner from a tight angle.
Spurs breathed a sigh of relief after half-time ahead of Thursday’s Carabao Cup quarter-final at home to Manchester United, with manager Anj Postkoglu having four teenagers on the pitch at the end of the game.
“The performance of the players was outstanding. We played a difficult European match away from home on Thursday night,” Postkoglu said, referring to the 1-1 Europa League draw away to Rangers.
“We had 10 first-team players unavailable tonight and it was great the lads came out with so much energy.”
