PL2 Preview: Saints vs Spurs
It’s a return to Snows Stadium for Southampton’s B team, who host second place Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.
Saints vs Tottenham Hotspur
Premier League 2
Snows Stadium
Sunday 7th February, 2pm GMT
Saints’ new-look B team took to the field for the first time in 2021 last week, travelling to West Ham United on Friday night.
With several under-18 regulars taking to the field, the likes of Sam Bellis, Zuriel Otseh-Taiwo and Lucas Defise all featuring for the duration, Dave Horseman’s side faced tough opposition in an experienced West Ham side.
Winston Reid was amongst those in the Hammers side who went on to win 3-1 at Rush Green; Kazeem Olaigbe getting the only goal for Saints during the second half.
Spurs had themselves a North London Derby in their first home fixture of the new year.
Ben Cottrell gave Arsenal the lead just shy of 20 minutes, before Kion Etete equalised on 33 minutes as both sides had to settle for a point.
It was an intriguing contest the last time these two sides met back at the start of October.
After an end-to-end first-half it was Spurs who got the breakthrough three minutes into the second 45; Jack Clarke converting at the back post from a corner routine.
Saints responded with a well worked leveller with twenty minutes to go, Josh Sims rounding the keeper and slotting home after being played through by Caleb Watts.
But Horseman’s side were dealt another cruel blow six minutes from time with his side pushing for a winner, as Dilan Kumar Markanday slid in at the back post on the counter.
With a young side ready and willing to learn Horseman is looking forward to the test that high-flying Spurs will pose at Snows Stadium on Sunday.
“It’s another opportunity [for the lads]. They’ll give us some different problems and will be a little more direct than West Ham. They are a tough opponent who have talented players all over the pitch and are extremely well coached.
“Tottenham play some great football, some great rotations, they will definitely stretch us at times so we’ll have to work on ways to play against them and win the ball back in certain areas.
“The boys need to keep the attitude from West Ham and we’ve have a good training group during the week. If we get them organised and they have the same spirit but cut the mistakes out then we’ll be ok.”
