Tottenham Hotspur delivered a commanding 3-1 win over Southampton at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday, a result that not only lifted Spurs to 13th in the Premier League standings but also condemned Southampton to the earliest relegation in the competition’s history. With seven games still remaining in the season, the Saints’ fate was sealed in a match that underscored their struggles and offered Tottenham a much-needed boost ahead of their Europa League quarter-final clash with Eintracht Frankfurt.
The afternoon began with promise for Tottenham, as Brennan Johnson opened the scoring in the 12th minute, capitalizing on a defensive lapse from Southampton. The winger poked the ball past Aaron Ramsdale after being played mysteriously onside by two Saints defenders, setting the tone for a first half dominated by the hosts. Johnson struck again five minutes before the break, finishing off a swift move to make it 2-0 and silencing any early nerves among the Spurs faithful. The crowd’s reaction, however, was muted—a half-hearted cheer reflecting the team’s inconsistent form rather than unbridled celebration.
Southampton, languishing at the bottom of the table with just 10 points from 31 games, offered little resistance in the opening 45 minutes. Their defense, described as “devoid of confidence” by pundits, struggled to cope with Tottenham’s attacking intent. Manager Ivan Juric, who replaced Russell Martin earlier this season, admitted post-match that his side’s first-half performance was lackluster. “We were too low, not high pressure, and everything was difficult,” he told BBC Match of the Day. However, he praised his team’s second-half response, noting an uptick in intensity and technical play.
That response materialized late in the game when Mateus Fernandes pulled one back for Southampton in the 89th minute, briefly igniting hopes of an improbable comeback. The midfielder’s strike, a rare moment of quality for the visitors, came after a sustained spell of pressure in the final stages. Yet, any flicker of optimism was swiftly extinguished in stoppage time. Southampton’s Welington conceded a penalty in the 95th minute, clumsily bringing down Johnson in the box. Substitute Mathys Tel stepped up to convert the spot-kick, sealing a 3-1 victory and Southampton’s fate.
For Tottenham, the win was a welcome respite for under-fire manager Ange Postecoglou, whose side had endured a four-match winless streak prior to this fixture. The three points moved Spurs to 37, level with Manchester United, and provided a confidence boost ahead of Thursday’s Europa League showdown. Postecoglou, speaking to reporters, emphasized the importance of the result: “It’s not about where we are in the league right now; it’s about building momentum. We needed this today.”
Southampton’s relegation, confirmed with a record-breaking seven games to spare, marks a new low in Premier League history. The south-coast club, promoted last season, now face the ignominy of potentially finishing with the lowest points total ever, needing just two more to surpass Derby County’s infamous 11-point haul from 2007-08. Juric remained defiant, focusing on the remaining fixtures: “Second half was good. We have to keep going, try to avoid that record.”