The Christmas period: one win, one draw and a loss.

Spurs 2 Brighton 1 (Boxing day), Norwich City 2 Spurs 2 (on the 28th) and Southampton 1 Spurs 0 (1^st January).

Not a good Christmas period by any standards, especially for a team that has high hopes of being in the Champions League next season.

The only saving grace was that United, Chelsea and Arsenal all had hiccups over Christmas as well. As for Liverpool, City and Leicester, they all seem to have cemented their top-four place, they will probably occupy these position at the end of the season unless a significant catastrophe develops for them (hopefully!).

As for the Premier League table, we are currently in sixth, behind United (5^th) and Chelsea (4^th). Only six points behind Chelsea. Close enough to get that fourth spot, but we have to buck our ideas up.

It all started with Brighton on the 26 December, but before that, we must prepare the path (to my travels).

Christmas for me was a stay with Hanna in Goodmayes. I left at 3pm on Xmas Eve. In the evening I had a traditional Polish Christmas dinner (Hanna is Polish). The next day – Christmas, itself – was presents, food, more food and plenty of drink. I got books for Christmas (at least there). The next day quickly arrived, and it was time to prepare for my trip to Tottenham. I left at 10.30ish (I was only half an hour away from the ground). Got in at 12, got my programmes (mustn’t forget them!) and met the others. One of our members had trouble going through the security system because they had a larger than acceptable bag size. The jobsworth got shirty, and a few names were called. Which meant their card was confiscated. Eventually, it was sorted out and through the turnstiles, they went (with their Season club card firmly clutched).

We were quite buoyant (about the match), and we predicted our scores (no point in saying as nobody got it right). Had our custom food and drinks and out to our seats.

To cut a long story short; the result lifted us up to fifth in the table, three points behind fourth-placed Chelsea, who lost 2-0 at home to Southampton later on Thursday. Adam Webster had given the visitors the deserved lead, heading in from Pascal Gross' right-wing delivery towards the end of the first half.

However, we, who played at a pedestrian pace during the first period, raised our tempo after the interval to fight back. Harry Kane levelled matters with a right-foot shot into the bottom left corner after Brighton goalkeeper Mat Ryan had brilliantly parried his first effort.  And Dele Alli's sublime lobbed finish then found the top left corner to complete the turnaround.  All good so far. We, therefore, had high hopes when we faced a team that was at the wrong end of the table and could possibly go down. Yes, Norwich.

After the game, the usual get together for drinks and eventually home, or in my case, Goodmayes.

The next day it was to Carrow Road. This time I travelled to Lee Valley (Edmonton) to pick up the Spurs coach to Norwich. I met Martin there, and we sat together. But things didn’t go as planned. The coach had problems (the lift for disabled people didn’t work) so we were held back 1 hour and a half. They had to order another coach. Finally, we got to the ground an hour before KO.

After we were dropped off, we had a 10-minute walk to the stadium. Met up with Beverley, Rick, Kevin and a few others and chatted.

Again, to cut another long story short: Harry Kane struck a late penalty to earn us a point at Carrow Road and deny Norwich a first Premier League victory in seven matches. Mario Vrancic opened the scoring with his first Premier League goal for the Canaries before they were denied a second when Teemu Pukki's goal was ruled out for a marginal offside by the video assistant referee (VAR). We improved after the interval, and Christian Eriksen drew us level with a stunning free-kick, but Norwich retook the lead when Serge Aurier put through his own net.

We had our chances, Dele Alli's neat finish was ruled out for offside before Kane drew Christoph Zimmermann into a lunging challenge inside the area. Kane sent Tim Krul the wrong way from the spot to secure a point for us.

It was a scrappy affair, we should have done better. Any hopes of a top-four finish were starting to diminish. But we had another struggler in the pipeline, Southampton, where we could redeem ourselves and push for a top-four finish. Let us hope we are better at  Southampton.

The trip back also had its problems. The second coach had issues as well with the disabled lift, which meant those that couldn’t get off the coach missed most of the match. Eventually, the fire brigade was called to get the disabled off the coach and to the game (what was left of it). I believe it will cost the coach company over £400 for the call out. But that wasn’t the end of it. The Coach company had to call out another coach, which meant we had to wait over an hour (even though we were told it would take 5 minutes for the coach to come). I got back at about 11ish.

The next day we left for my house to have a Christmas dinner with my kids and grandchildren. Then on Tuesday, I took Hanna back home.

On Wednesday I travelled to a friend’s house for the  Southampton game (44 minutes away from my home). He had a ticket for the Southampton game, even though he was a Leeds supporter. From his house, his wife took us to a pub, had a few drinks and then to Southampton’s Stadium.

Football-wise this Christmas wasn’t going to get any better. And let’s not mention my knee/ arthritis.

One interesting note; as I approached their security, greeting Spurs’ Stewards and wishing them Happy New Year on the way, I had to ask the Southampton Stewards/ Security if they wanted to check my bag. “OK,” he said, with no eagerness.  Then I asked him if he wanted to brush his magic wand (bleeper) over me, “OK,” he replied again,l in the same manner. That is what I like, such enthusiasm! At least we all can rest in peace knowing that the Southampton guardians of our welling being are on the job. Or maybe he thought ‘Spurs,’ let them blow themselves up!

A goal from Danny Ings gave Southampton a narrow win over Jose Mourinho's first Christmas period with us. The Saints striker flicked the ball over Toby Alderweireld before shooting past Paulo Gazzaniga for his ninth goal in his past 10 games. Or I should say, Gazzaniga seemed to just stand there while all around him moved in slow motion for that goal that doomed us.

Truth be known, we were unimpressive, with Jan Vertonghen missing our best chance from close range in the first half.

To add insult to injury Mourinho, who was booked late on, sees his team stay sixth in the table, while Southampton rise to 11th.  Harry Kane was forced off with a leg injury just seconds after having a goal disallowed for offside in the second half. I hope he has a speedy recovery, but I am not too bothered as I am sure Son will step up to the mark on his return. Last season when Kane was out he did a brilliant job, so much so that we hardly missed Kane.

So, there you have it. Our football adventures over Christmas wasn’t a stunning one we all hoped for. As for the Xmas itself, it was just drinking and food, nothing to help my weight or the pressure on my foot. As for the TV (pass!). I just hope this year brings better things; on the pitch and off it.

Next up will be a competition that Pochettino didn’t give two figs about, the FA Cup 3^rd Rd against Middlesbrough.

Happy New Year, Glenn Renshaw