Spurs sink sorry Southampton with FIVE first-half targets

Tottenham Hotspur ended a five-match winless streak in ruthless fashion as they demolished Southampton 5-0 at St Mary’s Stadium on Sunday.

Ange Postecoglou’s facet scored 5 targets within the first half of a Premier League match for the primary time within the membership’s historical past, as James Maddison, Son Heung-min, Pape Sarr and Dejan Kulusevski all obtained among the many early targets.

It took Maddison simply 37 seconds to offer Spurs the lead – Tottenham’s quickest Premier League aim since Christian Eriksen’s strike after 11 seconds in opposition to Manchester United in January 2018 – as he ran on to the tip of Djed Spence’s by way of ball earlier than slotting previous Alex McCarthy.

Son added a second on 12 minutes following some calamitous Southampton defending, earlier than Kulusevski pounced on a unfastened ball within the six-yard field two minutes later for the guests’ third.

With solely 25 minutes on the clock, Sarr danced by way of the lacklustre dwelling backline to stab dwelling a fourth.

All of the injury was carried out within the first half as Southampton managed to maintain the guests at bay within the second interval, and even got here near a comfort aim themselves when Mateus Fernandes’ header was dominated out for offside.

Spurs transfer to inside 4 factors of fifth-placed Manchester Metropolis with the victory, whereas Southampton stay rooted to the foot of the desk, 9 factors adrift of security.

It’s a large win for Spurs, not simply when it comes to the rating. They’ve ended a barren run of 5 video games with out a win within the wake of that tremendous 4-0 victory at Man Metropolis final month.

When Spurs are good, they’re good. They made it look really easy within the first 45 minutes, helped by some dreadful Southampton defending, and had been far too robust for the house facet.

As for the Saints, how do they save their season from right here? Earlier than the sport, TNT Sports activities visitor Aaron Ramsdale – sidelined with a finger harm – insisted that the staff had not misplaced religion within the supervisor, however it’s laborious to see how he picks his squad up after that.

Maddison regarded on the right track to attain his first Premier League hat-trick when he struck twice within the first half, however that wait must go on for now.

His second-half substitution ended that individual goal, however nonetheless, he will probably be delighted along with his efficiency. He was so influential and, as TNT Sports activities skilled Joe Cole identified, when Maddison performs nicely, Spurs play nicely.

Southampton: McCarthy 4, Walker-Peters 4, Harwood-Bellis 5, Bednarek 5, Downes 6, Manning 4, Fernandes 6, Aribo 6, Dibling 7, Armstrong 6, Sulemana 5

Subs: Lumley, Bree, Wooden, Sugawara, Lallana, Amo-Ameyaw, Archer, Fraser, Onuachu

Tottenham: Forster 7, Spence 8, Grey 7, Dragusin 7, Udogie 6, Sarr 8, Bergvall 7, Maddison 9, Kulusevski 8, Son 9, Solanke 6

Subs: Porro 6, Dorrington 6, Werner 6, Johnson 6, Lankshear N/A

1’ – GOAL! – SOUTHAMPTON 0-1 TOTTENHAM (MADDISON): The dream begin for Spurs! Spence drives ahead from right-back and threads a move by way of to James Maddison who slots past Alex McCarthy for his sixth aim of the season. Spence will get an excellent help one minute into his debut!

12’ GOAL! – SOUTHAMPTON 0-2 TOTTENHAM (SON): Spurs double their lead and it is too straightforward! A deep cross from the proper evades three crimson and white shirts within the field and falls to Son on the far facet, who makes no mistake with a low end which fizzes previous McCarthy.

14’ – GOAL! – SOUTHAMPTON 0-3 TOTTENHAM (KULUSEVSKI): It is one other one! Spurs have a 3rd after extra terrible Southampton defending! Son crosses from the left to Dominic Solanke within the six-yard field, who’s challenged however the ball falls to the unmarked Kulusevski, who slams the ball dwelling from shut vary.

25’ – GOAL! – SOUTHAMPTON 0-4 TOTTENHAM (SARR): 4 for Spurs inside 25 minutes! Future Udogie denies Southampton an assault, drives down the pitch and finds Son on the left, who squares the ball for Pape Sarr to wriggle by way of a weak defence earlier than stabbing dwelling.

45’+4 – GOAL! – SOUTHAMPTON 0-5 TOTTENHAM (MADDISON): Spurs rating once more and that’s historical past made! Maddison scores from the tightest of angles, smashing the ball into the roof of the web and that is the primary time in Premier League historical past Spurs have scored 5 targets within the first half.

• Son Heung-min has now supplied 68 Premier League assists, the joint-most by any Spurs participant within the competitors’s historical past, degree with Darren Anderton. (Opta)
• Son Heung-min is the twentieth participant to attain in 100+ Premier League matches.