Tottenham v Southampton: Unders appeals at Wembley

Tottenham v Southampton
Tuesday, 12:30 GMT
Live on Sky Sports Premier League

Spurs eye maximum haul

After a 4-1 thumping at Man City, Spurs quickly rectified confidence - and goal difference - with a 3-0 success at Burnley on Saturday.

That was an important win given that Tottenham started the match a point behind the Clarets and after this fixture they travel to Swansea before hosting West Ham.

In other words, it's a great chance for Spurs to bank 12 points out of 12 over the frantic festive period.

With a hat-trick (his seventh of 2017!) at Turf Moor, Harry Kane matched Alan Shearer's Premier League record of 36 in a calendar year so that's one extra incentive for the England marksman, who is now this season's joint-top scorer in the top-flight alongside Liverpool's Mo Salah with 15.

One concern for Mauricio Pochettino's men is that this is a particularly quick turnaround. They walked off the Burnley pitch at 7.22pm on Saturday evening. They'll kick off again at Wembley at 12.30pm on Tuesday.

Saints stuttering

It's now just one win in nine for Southampton after they were held 1-1 by Huddersfield at St. Mary's on Saturday, a game that appeared to offer them a golden chance to climb towards mid-table safety.

The draw leaves them in 13th place but it's so tight at the bottom that they're just three points above the drop zone.

Away from home, they've conceded less goals (10 in eight games) than Man Utd, Arsenal and Spurs but only Crystal Palace have scored less on their travels.

That paltry tally of five away goals have all come in singles and, in fact, Saints have scored more than one in any game just once in their last 11 starts.

Charlie Austin is at least on a decent run with four in his last seven, but is unlikely to feature due to injury and a possible suspension.

Spurs hot favourites

Tottenham are just 1.36 to win the battle of the Mauricios, with Southampton 11.00 and the Draw 5.60.

Spurs have less home wins than Everton this season and their Wembley record of W5, D3, L1 is not what it was at White Hart Lane.

In truth, they've had some stodgy results - 1-1 with Burnley, 0-0 Swansea, 1-0 Bournemouth, 1-0 Crystal Palace, 1-1 West Brom - although Spurs fans will hope that is changing after the 5-1 victory over Stoke and 2-0 win over Brighton (1-0 until the 87th minute however).

Unders makes appeal

Southampton lost 2-1 in injury-time at Man City and went down by just a single goal at Chelsea on their last road trip.

Unders has landed in five of Tottenham's last eight Premier League home games and Southampton look ideal candidates to make that six in nine.

Overs is the favourite at 1.76 but Unders is definitely worth a go at 2.12 - especially with Tottenham's lack of recovery time. They may just edge it but there's every reason to think they may lack some zip.

Gain with Kane

Harry Kane looks to be about to embark on another one of his unstoppable runs when goalscoring looks ridiculously easy.

He's scored the opener nine times for club and country this season so I'm happy to go the very obvious route and back him for first scorer at 3.65.

Christian Eriksen is also worth considering for an anytime goal at 3.55.

The Dane has scored twice in his last four starts and seems to relish this fixture having bagged four goals in Tottenham's last four home games against Southampton.

Ref watch

Graham Scott hasn't shown more than three yellows in a game in his last 10 matches.

He's taken charge of both teams just once this season, booking only a single Spurs player in their 3-0 win at Everton and not cautioning any Saints when Mauricio Pellegrino's team edged out West Brom 1-0.

In the Fair Play table, Southampton are the second cleanest side while Spurs also cause little trouble so everything suggests a low bookings count.