THIS WAS the day when Saints fans could finally bury their animosity for Glenn Hoddle, because this was the day Saints proved to him they are better off without him.

Another fantastic win for Gordon Strachan's side took them to the dizzy heights of fourth in the Premiership on the back of a six-game unbeaten start to the season.

Since Hoddle left and since Strachan joined, Saints' star has been in the ascendancy while Spurs are just a mess.

Hoddle may have started the revolution at Saints but Strachan is the one that has taken the potential and turned the dreams into reality.

Everybody at Saints is sick of hearing about Hoddle and potential revenge when the club are doing so well - but, nevertheless, it's still been important for the fans.

But this result should end that once for all.

The reason for the bitterness towards Spurs and Hoddle was because he had taken Saints to new heights and the promised land seemed within touching distance when he jumped ship.

Without him it seemed it would be back to drudgery and despair.

But, after a brief interlude of the above with Stuart Gray, along came Strachan.

A man with fire in his belly, in love with the game of football and a born winner.

When Saints fans dreamed of the promised land under Hoddle not even they could have hoped for an eighth placed Premiership finish, an FA Cup final, European football and the kind of form this season which sees them sit fourth.

Spurs, scrabbling around at the bottom of the table and now managerless, aren't to be envied anymore.

Saints got the better of the deal.

Give me a choice between the two managers and I would take Strachan every time.

They could hardly be much more different in terms of character, personality and their approach to the game.

But football's all about winning and good results - look at last season's table and this season's. It tells you all you need to know.

Fortunes in football can always change but nobody can take these heady days away from the club or the fans and, no matter what else happens, the talking about Hoddle's departure from Saints ends once and for all now.

There was more than enough to salivate over in this match.

Once again the James Beattie-Kevin Phillips strike partnership led the way.

Phillips seems to get better with every game he plays. His all-round contribution and what he has done for Beattie is immeasurable.

It took just two minutes and 47 seconds for Beattie to get his name on the scoresheet again at the Lane.

Matt Oakley's left wing corner was met by a glancing header from the England striker and the ball cannoned off the inside of the post and in.

It was almost level moments later when Fredi Kanoute's header clipped the top of the bar.

The game rolled towards half-time with neither team being able to get completely on top.

There was the ultimate in Hoddle-Strachan contrasts in midfield as Hod's fancy 3-5-2 formation battled Strachan's rigid, but ultra-dependable, 4-4-2.

But Saints broke it down from another set-piece and went in 2-0 up.

Beattie picked up the ball and ran across the area but was tripped just right of centre 25 yards out.

He stepped up and fired the free kick towards the top corner where Kasey Keller got his hands to it but couldn't keep it out.

Just seven minutes after the re-start Phillips came close when Fabrice Fernandes rolled in a low cross from the right which the £3.25m man side-footed against the bar.

But Saints weren't to be denied on the hour mark when Chris Marsden ran down the wing and gave the ball to the over-lapping Graeme Le Saux.

His first time cross was met by the challenge of Phillips and Dean Richards and went in. Who got the final touch is hard to call, though Phillips admitted it was probably an own goal.

Two minutes later Spurs, who were terrible for the opening quarter of an hour of the second half, hit back when subs Darren Anderton and Robbie Keane combined to allow Kanoute to side foot home.

Spurs tried to pile on the pressure but Saints were strong and stood firm.

That's just one of the many qualities Strachan has instilled in his team of winners.