JAMES BEATTIE fired Saints to their highest ever Premiership position and moved closer to a place in England's team to face Turkey in the decisive Euro 2004 qualifier next month.

The 25-year-old's two goals also helped Saints equal their best ever top-flight start to a season and put him joint top on six with Liverpool's Michael Owen and Manchester City's Nicolas Anelka in the race for the Golden Boot.

Sven-Goran Eriksson was in the White Hart Lane stands to see Beattie brilliantly punish Tottenham and former Dell boss Glenn Hoddle with a first-half header and then a scorching 25-yard free-kick into the same top corner.

Beattie said: "I didn't know that Sven was there, although it wouldn't have affected the way I played. I've just gone out and played my normal game.

"The first goal was a great ball in from Oaks (Matthew Oakley), a great corner. I got half a yard on Dean (Richards) and there was enough pace on the ball, so I just had to direct it and it went straight into the top corner.

"The second Graeme Le Saux told me to make sure I put it in the corner, so I did. He said he fancied it and lined the ball up, but I told him to leave it!"

The last time Saints started a season six unbeaten was in 1983/4 when they went on to finish second behind Liverpool.

They have not started seven unbeaten since 1950 in Division Two, so will carve out a new top flight record if they avoid defeat against lowly Middlesbrough at St Mary's next Saturday.

Beattie said: "It's brilliant to equal the record, it sets us up really well for Europe and I'm really looking forward to Wednesday.

"Fourth in the table is the highest we have ever been and we have got to be happy with that. But the main thing is to remain unbeaten for as long as we can.

"We didn't want to lose or to concede a goal. We wanted a clean sheet and we were really solid at the back."

Beattie was also full of praise for strike-partner Kevin Phillips and had words of sympathy for former manager Hoddle, who has been on the receiving end of four Beattie goals in three matches in 2003.

"Kevin has come in and is working really hard and creating chances," he said.

"He has done everything right and was unlucky not to score.

"I also feel for Glenn, it's unfortunate but that's football."