Match Preview: Tottenham Hotspur vs Southampton (a must need win)

Match Preview: Tottenham Hotspur vs Southampton (a must need win)

This is another game I will take my girlfriend Janette to, and she is looking forward to it, as I am (that is taking her). This is an important game for us. A must need a win to keep up our challenge for a top-four place.

We are out of the Micky Mouse Europa Conference failures league and the League cup, but still in a fighting position in the FA Cup and for a top-four place. So, all good so far… and we are improving all the time under Conte.

Yes, Southampton and Spurs are now preparing for battle in the Premier League on Wednesday. Both teams have got through to the 5^th round of the FA cup. We beat Brighton and Southampton knocked out Coventry City.

Our destiny is in our own hands. I know we are in 7^th pace in the league, which seems a mountain to climb, but we have a few games in hand and win those, and the whole landscape will change. Manchester United sit just two points clear of us in the final Champions League spot, having played two more matches, and we also have games in hand over the Gooners, Chelski and the Spammers.

We have taken 13 points from a possible 15 under Conte and have also found the back of the net at least twice on each occasion. And, we have won each of our last five home games against the Saints in the Premier League.

 

Tottenham Hotspur Premier League form:

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Tottenham Hotspur form (all competitions):

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Southampton Premier League form:

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Southampton form (all competitions):

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Team News

Spurs

I imagine that both Kulusevski and Bentancur will start on the bench.

Son and Cristian Romero both should start, nonetheless, we still have three injury concerns; Eric Dier, Oliver Skipp and Japhet Tanganga. As for Dier, he may be ready to return to the matchday squad but will probably start from the bench.

Southampton

In the Coventry win, the Saints lost Lyanco to a "severe" thigh injury, while Armando Broja will also need to be assessed after taking a knock to the knee.

Will Smallbone is back in training, while Nathan Tella and Alex McCarthy remain sidelined.

Fraser Forster will expect to return to the first team, as Walker-Peters, Mohammed Salisu, and Oriol Romeu are also preparing to return to the first XI.

My possible starting lineup:

Lloris; Romero, Sanchez, Davies; Emerson, Winks, Hojbjerg, Reguilon; Lucas, Kane, Son

Thoughts and prediction

If you have followed Conte since he took over from hapless Nuno, you will see he is changing the players' mentality. There is more determination and hope under him than any manager since Pocettino took the reins. With the two new players in and the crap out, there is more hope and confidence all around.

The team that beat Brighton oozed confidence, contributing to our victory over them, keep up the good work and it will help us climb up the ladder.

Prediction

I know I always go for us winning (I am an optimist after all) but going on our game against Brighton, I shall go for a 4-0 win. And why not? I got the prediction against the seagulls right, and Janette is a good luck charm (she hasn't seen us lose a live game), so, yes, I feel confident.

All the best, Glenn

COYS!