Tottenham 0 - Saints 0

Saints were forced into a late change of plans when they lost two players at short notice. Jo Tessem flew back to Norway following a family bereavement while Dan Petrescu went sick.

Although he travelled he was still feeling weak from a flu-like virus and had to be ruled out.

It meant a return to the starting line-up for Tahar El Khalej who was away on international duty and so missed the goalless draw with Charlton.

Fellow Moroccan Hassan Kachloul was included against the team who reported wants to sign him and the outcome of an ongoing contract talk will determine if this was to be his last Premiership game for Saints.

Tottenham welcomed back Les Ferdinand and Sol Campbell following injury but goalkeeper Neil Sullivan and midfielder Tim Sherwood were suspended.

That meant a rare outing in goal for Ian Walker who has been linked with Saints in recent months.

Despite the absence of Petrescu, Saints still went with their new formation of three at the back with Dodd switching to the sweeper's role and Tahar El Khalej slotting in at right wingback with Matthew Oakley and Mark Draper anchoring in the centre.

Tottenham also went with three at the back and carved out the first chance on two minutes when a left-wing corner by Anderton was met by the unchallenged head of Campbell but Jones gathered safely.

Within seconds it was Saints on the attack and Beattie and Davies combined to set up Bridge who delivered an excellent cross to the far post where El Khalej ghosted in unchecked to get in a dangerous angled shot but Walker reacted well to save. Freund tried his luck from 25 yards but drove high and wide.

Saints had a great chance to take the lead after eight minutes when Kachloul beat the offside trap and broke strongly up the right getting the better of Campbell as he cut in to drive a low shot which Walker could only parry but the rebound would not quite run for Bridge as he followed-up strongly.

But as the lively start continued Tottenham went close a minute later when Rebrov hit a spectacular 22-yard volley with the outside of his foot and the ball flashed inches wide of the right-hand post.

Walker raced out of his area and just beat Beattie in a race for a through ball from Dean Richards and Saints carved Spurs open again on 18 minutes.

El Khalej intercepted ahead of Campbell inside his own half and broke forward quickly before playing in Kachloul down the right. He whipped over a dangerous cross but Davies at the far post could not quite manage to turn it in, bundling just wide.

Anderton was getting fearful stick from the Saints fans for his former Pompey connections - even though he grew up in Bitterne Park and is a lifelong Southampton supporter.

Kachloul won the ball well in midfield and found Oakley who knocked it wide for Beattie but his cross was well taken by Walker with Beattie really needing to be in the middle himself to put the keeper under pressure.

Tottenham were forced into a change after 20 minutes when Ferdinand limped off presumably with a recurrance of the hamstring problem which has been troubling him in recent weeks. He made straight for the dressing room looking disconsolate as he was replaced by David McEwen, signed a year ago from Dulwich Hamlet.

Saints should have taken the lead two minutes later. A header on by Davies looked to be going nowhere but Doherty nodded weakly back towards his keeper. In form striker Beattie was swift to pounce with a first time volley but Walker reacted well to beat the shot away.

Seconds later Saints were denied what looked like a blatant penalty as Beattie was pushed to the ground by Campbell but referee Clive Wilkes astonishingly waved away the claims and awarded a corner.

Kachloul's flag kick failed to clear the man at the nearpost and was deflected out to Oakley but his volley went into the ground, the bounce taking the sting out of it to give Walker a comfortable save.

Saints were briefly reduced to ten men while Beattie received touchline treatment for a foot injury.

Kachloul made a great diagonal run across the area from the right and was found by a cute chip from Davies, but under pressure from Campbell the ball ran through for a goalkick.

McEwen turned smartly past Richards and found Clemence, who had come across to the right, but overran the ball for a goal-kick.

Saints were worrying the home side with their pace and movement as they continued to dominate and after 35 minutes a section of the home crowd began to chant "we want Graham out."

But Spurs responded almost instantly with a swift break which saw Clemence hit a low 18-yard drive and Jones reacted well to tip I round his right-hand post.

Doherty just got away with heading a long ball from Richards back to his keeper who had to change directions sharply to catch it.

Davies won a corner off Young on 39 minutes and although Kachloul found the head of Richards, who climbed well but nodded over - his frustration showing he should have hit the target.

Beattie's header put Davies in behind Perry but Walker leapt well to block the lob as he ran clean through.

In injury time Walker sliced into the crowd as Beattie bore down on him but there was not enough time for Saints to make something from the throw. Half-time: TOTTENHAM 0 - SAINTS 0

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