Preview and Prediction: Southampton v Tottenham (From Enfield Independent)

Tottenham Hotspur could move into the top four if they beat Southampton at St. Mary's later today

10:32am Sunday 28th October 2012 in Sport By Tom Allnutt

Team news

Tottenham welcome back Gareth Bale after the winger missed last weekend's match against Chelsea and the midweek Europa League trip to Maribor due to the birth of his first child.

Mousa Dembele is a doubt with a hip injury but Emmanuel Adebayor and Michael Dawson are available after recovering from a back problem and illness respectively.

Southampton are still without Gaston Ramirez who has a thigh injury but Tadanari Lee is available again for the Saints.

What the manager says

Andre Villas Boas: "I think we had one of our strongest performances against Aston Villa after a trip to Panathinaikos. 

"This is a shorter trip, certainly we don't have the squad in-depth to give us the options other people might have.

"I think what we are trying to do is not just go through in a competition that means a lot to the club, but also educate the players on this intensity of matches that in the end is equal to any team playing in the Champions League.

"It is one day more, obviously, than the others and it is our preference to play on Sunday.

"By that previous example of Aston Villa, it leaves us in a comfortable position and hopefully it won't take its toll."

Nigel Adkins: "I don't think there is any need for me to seek assurances from the board.

"I said at the start of the season that there would be stormy weather ahead. We just need to baton down the hatches, stick together, ride out the wave."

Where it will be won and lost

Southampton have scored more goals at home than any other team in the bottom half but are yet to keep a clean sheet this season.

The Saints have only taken one point from their last three games and on the back of a 4-1 defeat to fellow new-boys West Ham, their confidence will be fragile.

Tottenham meanwhile have polarised opinion so far, flicking from outstanding to ordinary from week to week and sometimes from half to half in a single match.

With two managers eager to convince unsure fans, the key to this match could be which team scores the first goal and whose nerves settle quickest.  

Prediction

There should be goals in this game but Tottenham will score more of them.

Tottenham win 3-1