Strong Start from Spurs as they Sink Southampton

Saturday 6th August 2022 - 15:00

Match Report

Tottenham Hotspur 4 – 1 Southampton

Venue: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London

Competition: English Premier League

"Pre-Match Thoughts – Time to kick-off the new campaign and there's plenty of promise surrounding Spurs this season. It'll be good to see the team running out at home again after none of the pre-season friendlies were played there. No doubt the atmosphere will be electric. Let's hope for plenty of thrills in our favour.

I'm saying 3-0 Spurs."

Davies returned to start at left centre-back. It demonstrated Conte's trust in the Welshman, who was brilliant last season, but missed the last two games of pre-season through injury. The other standout was Royal starting at right wing-back, a player many predicted would be leaving the club in the summer. The rest was similar to how we lined up in the final game of the last campaign, with all six new signings having to wait to make their first competitive appearances for the club.

It was quite a frantic start with plenty of energetic moves going forward from both sides, but over-excited loose passes were letting them down here and there.

12' Goal. Southampton were putting Spurs under increasing pressure, then down the left side of the box Djenepo sold Royal with a stepover by the byline before chipping it back to the edge of the area. Højbjerg leapt to cut it out but it evaded him and found Ward-Prowse, who showed great technique to strike it on the volley, bouncing it up off the ground and beating Lloris to his right. Spurs caught out early. 0-1.

14' Royal made a quick cut back down the side of the box and went down. The ref waved away claims for a penalty and it looked the correct decision.

21' GOAL! Romero found Royal who gave it to Kulusevski on the right wing. He did his trademark cut back onto his left foot and whipped a cross over to the back post where Sessegnon raced in to meet it and head past the keeper into the centre of the net. Spurs back on level terms. 1-1.

30' A pass was played forward into the path of Son. He took it down well and squeezed a shot away but the keeper got down to keep it out.

31' GOAL! Son picked it up out on the left side, he smashed in a dipping ball towards goal from the top corner of the box that Dier scooped down to divert past the keeper into the bottom right corner. A quick turnaround from Spurs with both goals coming from defenders. 2-1.

38' Davies found a pocket of space outside the box and struck a shot across goal. It bounced up awkwardly before the keeper but he managed to parry the ball behind with a diving save.

45' Son snuck into the box behind a defender, again he took it into his stride beautifully before carrying it along the front of the six-yard box looking for an opening to shoot. He eventually lashed one at goal but he was falling backwards by that stage and blazed it over. Kane clearly felt he should have nudged it to him just to his right.

45'+2' Kane got on the ball in the centre of the field and did well to create space then find a pass. He bombed on into the box and received it back thanks to a Royal cross into his feet. A quick turn allowed him to squeeze a shot in from a tight angle, but the keeper stood tall to keep it out at his near post.

"Thoughts at Half-Time – It was a nervy start falling behind inside the opening 15 minutes, but we were quick to come back and deservedly lead at the break. We almost found a couple more too. Encouraging signs, lets hope we push on and open up some daylight between the two sides in the second half."

50' Davies sent a cross long into Royal running in at the back post similar to how Sessegnon scored in the first half. He couldn't quite control the header he tried to divert back across goal though and it looped over the crossbar.

52' Lovely play from Kulusevski to cut in from the right side again and slide a peach of a ball into the path of Sessegnon. He took it well and was quick to get the shot away but Walker-Peters made an important sliding challenge to block the effort.

53' Kulusevski was looking increasingly lively and he was a fraction away from finding either Romero's head or the far corner as he curled in another left-footed cross from the top corner of the box.

61' GOAL! Son slipped in Royal down the left side of the box after he'd made an unpredictable run across the face of goal. He slid it first time across the six-yard box where it looked like Salisu was set to clear with relative ease, but whilst backtracking he miscued his clearance and sent it into the bottom corner of his own net. 3-1.

63' GOAL! Spurs rampant now! Bentancur found Højbjerg in the middle of the park who got his head up before playing a beautifully weighted ball down the right flank that saw Royal in, he did well to cut it back to Kulusevski who took a touch, opened up his body and placed it calmly across goal into the bottom left corner. 4-1.

66' Ivan Perišić was introduced for his Spurs debut. Sessegnon, who had a good game, made way for him.

68' Great work from Kulusevski yet again, this time he beat his man by nudging it down towards the byline before knocking it across to Son. The Korean shot first time from close range but it was blocked by a defender. Spurs players swarmed the ref as the ball appeared to strike the arm of the Saints player. No penalty awarded as it wasn't deemed to be accidental.

74' Chance down the left side of the box as a Southampton player squeezed a shot away while under pressure. It was sneaking it's way across goal and into the corner but Lloris got down well to push it out with a strong left hand.

83' Kane broke away thanks to a Kulusevski pass into him on the counter. The crowd roared for him to take it all the way in on goal but he delayed the attack as Son shot past him to his left in space. He slid him in and Son struck first time at goal but it lacked accuracy and power and was easily saved by the goalkeeper.

86' With the game well and truly in our hands Conte made use of the newly introduced 5 subs rule by making a quadruple substitution. Debutants Bissouma and Lenglet came on for Bentancur and Davies, while Doherty and Moura made appearances in place of Royal and Kulusevski.

"Thoughts at Full-Time – After falling behind early Spurs responded brilliantly and ended up winning comfortably. So many positives to take away from that performance. It sends us straight to the top of the table above Arsenal, an excellent way to get the season started. Next up, Chelsea away."

Tottenham Player Ratings

• 1. Hugo Lloris – 7 – No chance of keeping Ward-Prowse's awkwardly bounced volley out. Didn't have a whole lot to do but stayed alert to make a strong save in the second half.

• 17. Cristian Romero – 8 – His usual self, with no nonsense tackles including a jumping scissored challenge in the second half. He managed to not get himself booked while bringing a fight to the side. He's such a formidable figure at the back and races forward whenever given the chance to as well.

• 15. Eric Dier – 9 – Scored a screamer in pre-season and popped up to open his account in the league with a well-taken header today. It's his first Premier League goal since the 18/19 season and one fans loved to see. Organised the backline well all game.

• 33. Ben Davies – 8 – Solid and reliable again at the back. Dealt with anything that came his way. Got a good shot off before half-time that worked the keeper.

• 12. Emerson Royal – 7.5 – Worked hard down the right side. Defended well. Delivered some decent crosses into the feet of attackers and played a big part in the third goal.

• 30. Rodrigo Bentancur – 7.5 – Classy. Neat and tidy with his tackling and in possession. Brings composure to the midfield.

• 5. Pierre-Emile Højbjerg – 7.5 – Battled throughout to secure control in the middle of the park. Demonstrated his passing prowess in the build-up to the fourth goal.

• 19. Ryan Sessegnon – 8 – Looked markedly improved. Got into the box time and time again and was rewarded with a goal that will have done him the world of good. Jumped into a fierce challenge on Walker-Peters moments later and picked up a yellow card. Promising showing from him on the whole.

• 21. Dejan Kulusevski – 9.5 – Outstanding. He looked fit and fast. So silky on the ball, always using it well. Beautiful play to tee-up Sessegnon's equaliser. Cuts back onto his left foot and delivers dangerously almost every time. So predictable, but he's so good at it that even though defenders know what's coming, they still can't stop him. Calm as you like to put his well-deserved goal away and he clearly enjoyed it.

• 7. Son Heung-min – 7.5 – Keen to cause problems. Excellent ball in to assist Dier's header that put us ahead. Snatched at a few of his opportunities.

• 10. Harry Kane – 7 – Struggled to get into the game in the first half. Came into it towards half-time and in the second half. Hungry to score but didn't have too many chances to put one away today.

Substitutions:

• 19. Ryan Sessegnon ⬅ 66' ➡ 14. Ivan Perišić – 6 – Made his debut. Quick to beat his man down the wing and deliver a dangerous cross. Showed how good he is at doing that.

• 30. Rodrigo Bentancur ⬅ 86' ➡ 38. Yves Bissouma – N/A – Received a booking within a couple of minutes. It seemed harsh as he slid in to win the ball in a 50/50 then tried to pull out of it once he saw the ball had gone. Comfortable in possession and unleashed a powerful shot right at the end that flew just wide.

• 12. Emerson Royal ⬅ 86' ➡ 2. Matt Doherty – N/A – Played a dodgy pass that put us in unnecessary trouble in front of our own box. Wasn't involved much more.

• 33. Ben Davies ⬅ 86' ➡ 34. Clément Lenglet – N/A – A brief runout on his debut.

• 21. Dejan Kulusevski ⬅ 86' ➡ 27. Lucas Moura – N/A – Didn't have much time to make an impact.

Man of the Match – 21. Dejan Kulusevski