Spurs crush Southampton 5-0 as Maddison dazzles on the field.©(@1882_Tottenham )
Tottenham Hotspur delivered a commanding performance at St Mary’s, crushing Southampton 5-0 in a match that underlined the sharp contrasts between the two sides. The emphatic victory was spearheaded by James Maddison, who scored twice, and contributions from Heung-Min Son, Dejan Kulusevski, and Pape Sarr. The defeat marked a new low for Southampton, leaving the club stranded at the bottom of the Premier League table with just five points from 16 matches, leading to manager Russell Martin’s dismissal.
The game began disastrously for Southampton, with James Maddison finding the net 36 seconds into the match. Djed Spence quickly broke through the Saints’ midfield, setting up Maddison for the opener – Southampton’s earliest conceded goal in the Premier League since 2013. Tottenham promptly capitalized on the hosts’ disarray, with Heung-Min Son doubling the lead after a poor defensive header from Jan Bednarek. Within minutes, Son turned provider, assisting Dejan Kulusevski to make it 3-0.
By the 25th minute, Tottenham had extended their lead to 4-0 as Pape Sarr scored following more defensive lapses. The early onslaught sparked a mass exodus of Southampton fans from the stadium, with many expressing their frustrations at Martin’s leadership. The humiliation deepened just before half-time when Maddison scored his second from an improbable angle, leaving the Saints reeling.
The second half lacked the intensity of the first, with Tottenham opting for a conservative approach as they rested key players, including Maddison and Son, ahead of their upcoming Carabao Cup quarter-final clash with Manchester United. Southampton attempted to salvage some pride, with Tyler Dibling showing glimpses of promise and Mateus Fernandes finding the net, only for the effort to be ruled offside.
Following the match, Martin addressed the defeat, admitting disappointment in his team’s mentality and execution. He acknowledged the supporters’ frustration, stating, “As a manager, it hurts me. It hurts the team, but I also understand it.” However, Martin was relieved of his duties shortly after the final whistle, with the club now searching for a new leader to guide them out of the relegation zone.
Tottenham head coach Ange Postecoglou praised his team’s resilience despite their depleted squad. Postecoglou highlighted the leadership of senior players like Maddison and Son, who were instrumental in securing the win. He commended the players’ energy and commitment, particularly given their challenging European fixture earlier in the week.
Also Read: Manchester City Targets Wirtz, Guimaraes & January Transfers
For Southampton, the loss underscored a grim reality. The club has now suffered 13 defeats in 16 games and has nine points adrift of safety. Southampton faces an uphill battle to avoid relegation as the Premier League’s basement club. Meanwhile, Tottenham’s victory reinforced their status as strong contenders in the league, with their dominance on full display at St Mary’s.
