Bottom club Southampton were booed after another humiliating defeat in the Premier League as Tottenham left St Mary's with three points after a resounding 5-0 win.
Russell Martin's side have now lost five of their last six games and 13 of 16 since being promoted to the top level in the summer. They are stuck in 20th place, already nine points off safety.
In his program notes, Martin had called on Saints fans to continue to believe in his players despite the dire situation they currently find themselves in. Any effect these words might have had on the supporters was quickly eradicated.
With just 36 seconds left on the clock, James Maddison swept the opener after Djed Spence easily advanced the ball through the center of the park. It was the first goal Saints have conceded in the Premier League since November 2013.
It was 2-0 after twelve minutes when Heung-Min Son shot the ball home after Jan Bednarek's poor header, and two minutes later it was 3-0, with Son becoming the provider for Dejan Kulusevski who turned the ball in from close range .
That was enough for the home fans to turn their frustrations on Martin, but Pape Sarr's fourth – after abysmal defending in the 25th minute – sparked a mass exodus from St Mary's. It was the first time that Tottenham had led by four goals in a Premier League match.
Martin trudged through the tunnel before the half-time whistle, missing not only the intense boos from the home fans who greeted him, but also Maddison's second of the night from the tightest of angles.
There was no such intensity in the second half. In fact, Spurs attempted just one shot in the second half, with Son, Maddison and Dominic Solanke pulling away with one eye during the Carabao Cup quarter-final against Manchester United, shown live on Sky Sports.
Southampton did try to reduce the deficit, with Tyler Dibling perhaps their biggest threat. Mateus Fernandes headed in late, but immediately knew he had been offside. Ultimately, there was nothing they could do to take the shine off; the job was already done.
Martin: Angry has hurt me as a manager, but I will fight on
Under-pressure Southampton manager Russell Martin in conversation with TNT Sports:
“I was hurt in the first half. As a group we just don't respond well to setbacks.
“In the end it hurt us a lot this season. We concede so early and we have the chance to foul Djed Spence in the middle of the pitch, but we don't. Then we are 1-0 down, and then the reaction afterwards is unbelievably bad.
“Probably the most disappointing thing is that we have a plan that I love in the week of training. The players have been part of that process, but we are not executing it with enough intensity of aggression because we are literally conceding the first play they encounter.” have the ball. So that has to do with the mentality and wanting to stick to it.
“So I didn't recognize our team in the first half. I'm glad they persevered in the second half. But it's a tough night.”
On the question of whether the boos from the home crowd affect him: 'Not as a person. Because I understand it's not personal. I don't know them and they don't know me.
“As a manager it obviously hurts me. It hurts the team, but I also understand it.”
Asked where he comes from: “I think we have no choice but to work and fight. It's all I've done since I got this job, and it's all I'll continue to do until I'm told otherwise. “
Ramsdale: I feel sorry for Martin
Southampton goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale in conversation with TNT Sports:
“A difficult one. The early goal was a blow to us and we never recovered from it.
“Give credit to Tottenham – James Maddison, player of the match.
“Tonight is a very difficult one for us.”
On Russell Martin: “I feel very sorry for him. I think the guys are still trying for him. I don't think there's any talk about Russell Martin.
“The fans deserve better and they stay with us, and we have to move on very quickly for Wednesday.”
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