Tottenham Hotspur scored five goals in the first half of a Premier League match for the first time in their history as they beat bottom club Southampton 5-0 away on Sunday.
James Maddison scored twice, his first after 36 seconds and his second just before half-time, while Son Heung-min, Dejan Kulusevski and Pape Matar Sarr were also on target.
As Southampton imploded, many of their supporters left well before the break, although those who remained at least saw their team regain a modicum of pride in the second half.
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The victory was a welcome boost for Spurs who had managed just one point from their last three league matches. They moved up to 10th with 23 points from 16 games.
Southampton’s 13th league defeat of the season left the team with five points and they look destined for a quick return to the Championship as they languish nine points from the safety zone.
Some supporters expressed their disapproval of manager Russell Martin by holding up a fan’s banner calling for him to be sacked, which he ultimately was.
Some supporters expressed their disapproval of manager Russell Martin by holding up a fan’s banner calling for him to be sacked, which he ultimately was. | Photo credit: Getty Images
Some supporters expressed their disapproval of manager Russell Martin by holding up a fan’s banner calling for him to be sacked, which he ultimately was. | Photo credit: Getty Images
“I was injured in the first half. We just don’t respond very well to setbacks as a group,” Martin said. “I didn’t recognize our team in the first half. It’s a difficult night.
“We have no choice but to work and fight, that’s all I have done since I took this position.”
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CONFIDENT SPURS
Injured Tottenham have looked shaky in recent weeks, winning just once in eight games in all competitions, and Southampton may have sensed an opportunity.
But from the moment Djed Spence’s sublime pass allowed Maddison to fire the opener past Alex McCarthy, confidence returned, although they were helped by a shocking first-half display from the Saints.
Son struck in the second after 12 minutes as Southampton failed to cut out a cross and minutes later the South Korean’s pass into the box fell to Kulusevski’s feet to score from close range.
Sarr showed excellent footwork after controlling Son’s pass to score Tottenham’s fourth goal, just as the St Mary’s stands were quickly emptying.
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Maddison scored his second goal in first-half stoppage time, latching onto Son’s pass and scoring from a tight angle into the far top corner.
Spurs took their foot off the gas after the break and finished the game with four teenagers on the pitch as manager Ange Postecoglou announced the changes ahead of a League Cup quarter-final at home to Manchester United on Thursday.
“It was exceptional from the players. We had a tough European game on Thursday night,” Postecoglou said, referring to the 1-1 draw against Rangers in the Europa League.
“We had 10 first-team players unavailable tonight and for the guys to come out with so much energy was brilliant.”
