Premier League Preview: Southampton v Tottenham | Sun 22nd December 13:30

Although they have been somewhat media darlings of the Premier League this season, Southampton are actually searching for a first win in six at home to Tottenham.Emmanuel Adebayor scored against West Ham in the week and will be looking to prove former manager Villas-Boas wrong in the coming months

Their core of English talent could benefit however, from facing a side in such disarray. Tim Sherwood did his claims for the permanent Spurs post no favours in guiding them to a League Cup quarter-final exit at the hands of West Ham, but the former club captain will at least continue at the helm for this bout. And whilst the goalscoring return of Emmanuel Adebayor was undoubtedly a positive aspect of Tottenham’s last outing, its sheen was unceremoniously wiped out by the defensive capitulation they suffered within the last 10 minutes of the match.

Spurs remain light in terms of backline options, and that fact could be exploited by a home attack bettered only by the top flight’s top five sides, as well as Swansea. Also boasting the division’s joint-third strongest home defence, the Saints aren’t difficult to fancy to dispel their poor recent form here.

TEAM NEWS

Southampton

• Artur Boruc, Victor Wanyama, Danny Fox and Guly do Prado all injured

• Kelvin Davis and Nathaniel Clyne to be assessed before the match

Tottenham

• Jan Vertonghen and Andros Townsend injured

• Danny Rose, Michael Dawson, Christian Eriksen and Emmanuel Adebayor to be assessed before the match

• Vlad Chiriches expected to start with aid of painkilling injections

FORM GUIDE

Southampton

Tottenham

HEAD to HEAD

STATISTICS

• After completing a double over Southampton last season, each of Tottenham’s goalscorers within the two games have now left the club

• Jay Rodriguez bagged in this fixture last term, and has notched three times in his past four appearances

• Five of the Saints’ six victories this campaign have been accompanied by a clean sheet

• Spurs have failed to score in any of their five seasonal league defeats

• Southampton led at half-time in three of their four home triumphs this term

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