Spurs sink sad Saints

Ziege opened the scoring for Spurs

Tottenham 2-0 Southampton

Tottenham target Dean Richards produced an imperious display in defence but could not prevent Southampton slumping to their third consecutive Premiership defeat.

Glenn Hoddle faced his former club and it proved a satisfactory day's work for the Spurs boss - even if his side left it late.

Goals from Christian Ziege and Simon Davies in the 76th and 87th minutes gave the home side all three points but only after Southampton had put up a resolute display.

  Key moments

76 mins: Christian Ziege slots home Spurs' opener

87 mins: Simon Davies secures win for Spurs

Spurs thought they had taken the lead after only three minutes courtesy of Teddy Sheringham's scrambled effort.

But Gary Doherty was adjudged to have committed a foul in the build-up.

Stuart Gray's side, desperate to register their first points of the season, enjoyed a good start and pressurised the Spurs defence with some clever play.

To get the goals and the victory make it a good day's work - it's a stepping stone

Glenn Hoddle

Richards forced an excellent reflex save out of Spurs keeper Neil Sullivan and Marian Pahars just failed to convert Kevin Davies' cross.

For Spurs, Sheringham was in inspired form - and the skipper helped his side get back into the game after a sluggish opening spell.

The former Manchester United striker threaded an exquisite through-ball to Les Ferdinand, who wasted a great chance to score after his second touch failed to match his first.

Ferdinand went close with a stunning volley

Ferdinand almost made amends for his earlier mistake on the half hour.

Darren Anderton produced the perfect pass for the former England striker, whose powerful volley cannoned off the crossbar.

How the first half failed to produce a goal given the number of chances is a mystery.

Both teams came out after the interval searching for the opener and Spurs defender Mauricio Taricco went close with a 25-yard shot.

Richards made some excellent tackles to keep his side in the game but his virtuoso one-man defensive display was not enough to keep out Spurs.

We need someone in that final third - we're doing well up to there but at the moment it's not coming off

Stuart Gray

Ziege finally opened the scoring in the 76th minute after an excellent pass from Davies.

The German international cooly slotted home a left-foot shot to beat Paul Jones in the Southampton goal.

Davies then got in on the act 11 minutes later when he produced a similar finish to a move started by Sheringham.

Southampton probed but ultimately failed to penetrate and were unlucky not to go further behind when Ferdinand was denied in the dying seconds of the game.

Gray's side have now failed to find the net in their opening three Premiership games - and on this performance they do not seem any closer to opening their account.

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Tottenham: Sullivan, Taricco, Ziege, King, Bunjevcevic, Doherty, Anderton, Freund, Davies, Ferdinand, Sheringham. Subs: Keller, Perry, Rebrov, Leonhardsen, Etherington.

Southampton: Jones, Bridge, Delap, Richards, Svensson, Tessem, Oakley, El Khalej, Pahars, Rosler, Davies. Subs: Moss, Benali, Beattie, Draper, Murray.

Referee: A Wiley (Burntwood).