Saturday, 25th October 1997
The Dell

	Southampton	3	VS	2	Tottenham Hotspur
Jones, Dodd, Benali (Charlton, 68), Palmer, Monkou, Lundekvam, Le Tissier (Slater, 81), Oakley (Williams, 52), Hirst, Davies, Richardson.			Attendance 15,255. Referee N S Barry	Walker, Edinburgh (Calderwood (Fenn, 86), 73), Carr, Vega, Campbell, Howells, Fox (Anderton, 73), Armstrong, Ginola, Domingues, Sinton.
Subs not used: Johansen, Taylor.				Subs not used: Nielsen, Baardsen.
Booked: Palmer, Slater.				Booked: Campbell, Domingues, Vega.
Goal Scorer: Vega (o.g.), Hirst 67,80				Goal Scorer: Domingues 42, Ginola 65

David Hirst marked his home debut with a priceless double to lift Southampton off the foot of the table.     The £2 million club record signing scored twice in 12 minutes as the Saints came from behind against Spurs for only their third Premiership win of the season.     Goals from Jose Dominguez and David Ginola either side of an own goal from Ramon Vega appeared to have given the Spurs revival added momentum.     But Hirst, who had previously had an undistinguished afternoon, took his chances superbly to open his account following his recent move from Sheffield Wednesday.     Southampton had been boosted before the kick-off by the return of Matthew Le Tissier who missed last weeks defeat at Blackburn.     The England midfielder shrugged off a thigh strain to start his third Premier League game of the season with Simon Charlton dropping down to the bench.     Spurs were still without several long term casualties although Darren Anderton continued his comeback with a place on the bench.

The first half was an instantly forgettable affair however with Le Tissier looking out of shape.     The importance of the game seemed to affect both sides and the opening exchanges were dominated by a series of nervous misplaced passes.     Dominguez produced the first shot on target after nine minutes but it lacked all the power and direction of his later effort and Paul Jones was able to save easily.     Oakley produced a carbon copy strike at the other end a few minutes later and 33 minutes had gone before Ian Walker was pressed into action again in the Spurs goal.     Le Tissier, who had earlier blazed a free-kick well over the bar, this time found the target with a first time volley but also found Walker in the way.     Hirst had the best chance of the first half for the home side, Monkou's low cross found him in space in the area but his first time sidefoot effort lacked any power and Walker gathered at the second attempt.

Dominguez then decided to brighten up a drab encounter all on his own.     He should have had a penalty on 39 minutes, Dodd tripping the diminutive Portuguese star inside the area only for the referee to wave away the Spurs appeals.     But Dominguez was not to be denied his moment of glory and just two minutes later scored an early contender for goal of the season.     He picked up the ball fully 30 yards out and smashed a brilliant drive into the top corner which gave Jones no chance whatsoever.     Southampton were level within 10 minutes of the second half however thanks to a bizarre own goal from Vega.     Claus Lundekvam's shot was going well wide until it hit Vega and trickled over the line with Walker wrong-footed.     Dominguez was determined however not to see his brilliant goal go to waste and he helped Spurs back into the lead 10 minutes later.
	He collected Walker's long throw inside his own half and turned Francis Benali with ease before advancing deep into the Tottenham half.     A simple ball found Ginola on the left hand side and the Frenchman advanced to the edge of the area before firing past Walker into the far corner.     The lead lasted only three minutes though as Hirst marked his debut with the equaliser.     He picked up Davies' flick on and his first time shot beat Walker into the far corner.     And the former Sheffield Wednesday and Barnsley man then rounded off his first appearance at the Dell in style with the winner 12 minutes later.
Davies was again the provider, his ball finding Hirst just inside the area and his left foot shot found the net despite Walker getting his hand to the ball.     Hirst could even have had a hat-trick but with just a few minutes left his right foot shot proved not as accurate as his left as he blasted wide from just six yards out.

	See the goal...		Dominguez 42'
			Ginola 65'
	Hear the goal...