Davies seals Spurs win with festive cracker!

What's red and white and turns up with something special this time each year?

No it's not Santa but Kevin Davies who ended his 16-game goal-drought by scoring in a third successive festive fixture for Saints.

Both last season and in his previous stint at The Dell he netted against Chelsea in his first match after Christmas.

This time it was Tottenham's turn to produce a beaming smile with a welcome gift, presenting Davies with a side-foot volley for his first goal since he hit the target at home to Watford on April 15.

Not only did it lift a huge weight from the shoulders of the striker who had hit the sidenetting in the first minute, but it effectively clinched three vital points for Saints to avenge last season's 7-2 mauling.

It came just 100 seconds after James Beattie had extended his stunning scoring spree by whipping in the first and that quickfire burst was enough to see off toothless Tottenham.

Spurs have now picked up just two points in ten away games this season - and small wonder given their lack of punch.

Much of that was down to the Scrooge-like Saints defence which gave nothing away in this season of goodwill.

Chief miser was Dean Richards who eclipsed Sol Campbell with a masterly display which begged the question how one is in the England team and the other has not had a look-in.

Richards read everything, was forceful in the air and adept on the ground to reduce £11 million striker (yes, that's right £11 million!) Sergei Rebrov to an ineffective bit-part player whose only noteworthy contribution was to be substituted.

Alongside Richards in the Saints defence, Claus Lundekvam was again immaculate and with the flanks sealed tight, there was no way through.

That unflinching back line was the foundation on which this victory was constructed and it was topped off by flashes of inspiration within a tight overall framework.

The creative threat of the injured Matthew Oakley was missed in midfield but Chris Marsden and Mark Draper anchored solidly although even their work-rate was eclipsed by Jo Tessem who covered vast ground to good effect.

Kevin Davies and Marian Pahars were pushed wide to clamp down on Tottenham's attacking full-backs and to cut inside whenever possible.

And the catalyst for it all in attack was once again Beattie whose adrenaline-charged enthusiasm is infectious.

His muscle and bustle left Chris Perry scared of his own shadow and even unsettled Campbell, particularly after his early booking.

Perry was nowhere near stopping Beattie as he stormed on to a long ball forward down the left by Wayne Bridge.

The hapless defender made a half-hearted attempt to clear hitting the ball against Beattie's arm. There was clearly no intent and from that moment there was only one outcome given the striker's scorching run of form.

He took one touch to cut inside and rammed in an angled shot before Campbell could get back.

Less than two minutes later Marsden won the ball in his own half and found Pahars who sprinted up the right and cut sharply back past Alton Thelwell to whip in a left-foot cross.

With Stephen Carr sucked into the centre, no-one picked up Davies as he drifted in from the left to meet it first-time on the drop, squeezing the sidefoot volley in off the post.

It was a classic one-two which floored George Graham's side and they never looked like coming back, such was Southampton's discipline.

They were so commanding that Graham ended up taking off both his strikers and, in the absence of the sorely missed Les Ferdinand, he finished with a feeble makeshift attack.

With the next goal absolutely critical, Saints concentrated on protecting their advantage yet also broke quickly mainly through Tessem and Pahars.

They had good chances to wrap the game up late on when Trond Soltvedt hit the bar and Pahars sent a flying header wide.

But there was never any fear that Spurs would make them rue those misses and the taunted travelling fans again made their discontent clear.

It would be a cruel irony if this victory increased the pressure on George Graham and ultimately tempted the club's new owners to try and prise Hoddle back to White Hart Lane.