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Tottenham scored five first-half goals for the first time in a Premier League game Five goals in a rampant first half earned Tottenham a stunning victory at St Mary's Stadium to heap pressure on Southampton boss Russell Martin. A strike inside 40 seconds from James Maddison settled any pre-game nerves for Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou, the England midfielder tucking home from Djed Spence's clever pass. Against a woefully open Saints defence, Tottenham's free-scoring attackers cleaned up, Son Heung-min firing past Alex Mc Carthy and Dejan Kulusevski tapping in from close range inside the first 15 minutes. Amid angry boos from the stands, Martin's response was to abandon his four-man defence and revert to a back three, withdrawing a distraught Kamaldeen Sulemana straight after the third goal. And yet it did not work as a shell-shocked Southampton were hit on the break by Son once more and he teed up Pape Sarr to dance through two half-hearted challenges and slot into the net. Spurs captain Son was denied three more times by Mc Carthy before Maddison smashed into the top of the net from a ridiculous angle deep into first-half stoppage time. With Spurs fans delirious in the away end, some Southampton supporters took to the exits early, rightly anticipating little hope of a miracle comeback. Matheus Fernandes did think he had pulled one back in the 80th minute but his header was ruled out for offside. The result leaves Saints nine points from safety and guaranteed to be bottom at Christmas. Meanwhile, Tottenham are up to 10th, entrenched in a congested mid-table where just three points separate eight teams. Follow reaction from St Mary's Stadium Southampton fans, give us your reaction What did you make of the performance, Tottenham supporters? This video can not be played Southampton 0-5 Tottenham: 'Really poor' Saints lacked intensity - Martin This game was the nadir of a bleak return to the Premier League for Southampton. Championship play-off winners back in May, Martin's style of play – and the Saints players – have found it a formidable step up with just 11 goals scored in 16 games and 36 shipped at the other end. With senior players Alex Mc Carthy and Jan Bednarek available again, Martin went for a four-man defence against supposedly fatigued and under-pressure opponents. It was an experiment he ditched after 15 minutes as his bedraggled players wilted in the headlights of the Spurs juggernaut. It did not work. Tottenham were a constant threat, first to every loose ball and rapier-like through a flimsy Southampton midfield. With their eighth shot on target of a brutally one-sided first half, Maddison made it five - cutting inside a flailing defender and blasting into the top corner. Martin did not even see it – he had headed for the dressing room early to meet his players. Saints showed spirit after the break, helped by some remarkable positive support from the stands and the probing of Tyler Dibling, but it was too little, too late. With just five points from their first 16 games, Southampton have been far too easy to play against. Martin has to find a solution fast to stand any chance of rescuing what seems an increasingly doomed season. This video can not be played Southampton 0-5 Tottenham: Ange Postecoglou 'couldn't be prouder' of 'outsanding' Spurs After a very noisy week at Tottenham, it must have been nice for Postecoglou to see the spotlight turned on his opposite number. The Spurs boss openly questioned some of his players on Thursday, specifically Timo Werner, after a difficult night against Rangers in the Europa League. He doubled down on his criticism on Friday and made five changes for this game, albeit some of those enforced due to suspensions for midfield pairing Yves Bissouma and Rodrigo Bentancur. Indeed, Tottenham have lost three and drawn one of the four Sunday games they have played after Thursday matches, but they got off to a hot start and never looked back on the south coast. In many ways, Southampton played into their hands – more open than a shopping centre at Christmas time – but the Spurs attackers took full advantage. On this form, a forward line of Maddison, Kulusevski, Son and Dominic Solanke is one of the best in the Premier League and they feasted on the space afforded to them. They are second top scorers in the Premier League with 36 goals in 16 games and have an impressive +17 goal difference, while Son's two assists here moved him level with Darren Anderton as Tottenham's joint-leading provider in their Premier League history at 68. Putting to bed inferior opponents in this fashion will go a long way towards helping improve their league position. After all, they are only five points off the top four. After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users. Comments can not be loaded To load Comments you need to enable Java Script in your browser Last Updated 15th December 2024 at 20: 55 Please Note: All times UK. Tables are subject to change. The BBC is not responsible for any changes that may be made. Manager: Russell Martin Formation: 4 - 3 - 1 - 2 Manager: Ange Postecoglou Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 Manager: Russell Martin Formation: 4 - 3 - 1 - 2 Manager: Ange Postecoglou Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 Premier League All competitions All competitions All competitions Southampton have lost just one of their last six home league games against Tottenham (W2 D3), going down 5-2 in September 2020. Tottenham have only failed to score in one of their last 22 Premier League meetings with Southampton, a 1-0 away loss in January 2020. Southampton have scored in each of their last 15 Premier League games against Tottenham, their longest scoring streak against an opponent in the competition’s history. Tottenham are unbeaten in their last 13 Premier League games against sides starting the day bottom of the table (W10 D3), since a 1-0 loss at West Bromwich Albion in May 2018. Spurs have scored 42 goals in this run, netting at least three times in each of the last eight. Southampton have won just one of their last 28 Premier League games (D6 L21), with their 1-0 win over Everton in November their only clean sheet in their last 27 in the competition. Tottenham have lost 14 of their 33 Premier League games so far in 2024 (W14 D5), just one fewer than they did in 42 games in 2023. They last lost 15+ league games in consecutive calendar years in 2002 (15), 2003 (20) and 2004 (15). In their first 11 Premier League games this season, Tottenham faced an average of just 9. 6 shots and 3. 4 shots on target per game. In their last four, they’ve faced 18. 8 shots and 6. 8 shots on target per game. Tottenham captain Son Heung-min has scored more goals (10) against Southampton than he has any other Premier League opponent, while he has also provided the joint-most assists against the Saints (5, level with Man City). Ben Brereton hasn’t won any of his 24 Premier League games in spells at Sheffield United (14) and Southampton (10), drawing six and losing 18. Only Oliver Burke (25) has had a longer winless run from the start of a Premier League career. Tottenham’s Dejan Kulusevski could make his 100th Premier League appearance in this match, with his first also coming against Southampton back in February 2022. He has 21 assists in the league, with only Son Heung-min providing more for Spurs since his debut (24). Match ends, Southampton 0, Tottenham Hotspur 5. Second Half ends, Southampton 0, Tottenham Hotspur 5. Foul by Dejan Kulusevski (Tottenham Hotspur). Yukinari Sugawara (Southampton) wins a free kick on the right wing. Fourth official has announced 3 minutes of added time. Attempt missed. Brennan Johnson (Tottenham Hotspur) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses the top left corner. Assisted by Timo Werner with a cross. Attempt saved. Taylor Harwood-Bellis (Southampton) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Attempt blocked. Yukinari Sugawara (Southampton) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Attempt saved. Pape Sarr (Tottenham Hotspur) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Pedro Porro. Corner, Tottenham Hotspur. Conceded by Jan Bednarek. Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur. Will Lankshear replaces Dominic Solanke. Substitution, Southampton. Cameron Archer replaces Adam Armstrong. Foul by Dominic Solanke (Tottenham Hotspur). Taylor Harwood-Bellis (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Brennan Johnson (Tottenham Hotspur). Flynn Downes (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Offside, Southampton. Mateus Fernandes is caught offside. Attempt missed. Tyler Dibling (Southampton) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Nathan Wood with a headed pass. Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur. Timo Werner replaces James Maddison. Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur. Alfie Dorrington replaces Djed Spence. © 2024 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.