No place like home for Jose and Co

Tottenham Hotspur v Southampton – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium – Emirate FA Cup fourth-round replay – Wednesday 7:45pm

Tottenham Hotspur v Southampton – Preview:

With the Premier League’s winter break now underway, some would forgive Jose Mourinho, had the Portuguese chief chosen to curse a midweek Emirates FA Cup fourth-round replay date with Southampton at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

However, with the topic elsewhere focused on understrength teams and absent managers, the Spurs boss – who won the competition during his time at Manchester United – offered a positive reaction to a night under the lights in the world’s oldest football competition.

“Only one FA Cup – but I want to try the second one,” Mourinho enthused.

“If you ask me, I know where the direction goes – If you ask me if I prefer to play tomorrow or already have the boys on holidays – I prefer to play tomorrow.

“To have them on holidays would mean that we are knocked out in the first game in Southampton and it is better to draw.”

Injuries, fatigue and a second replay during this season’s competition, however, Mourinho insisted N17 was the place to be on Wednesday evening.

It is another extra effort for the boys and we don’t have many of them at this moment,” he added.

“But I prefer – the fans also prefer. They have been in the stadium against Middlesbrough in the last round and I think they are going to be there tomorrow again.

“Let’s go – we are in the competition, so until we aren’t we will fight.”
Dele Alli could feature for Spurs despite being forced off during Sunday’s Premier League triumph over Manchester City following a robust challenge from Raheem Sterling.

The England midfielder appeared to be a huge doubt, but the injury is not as bad as Tottenham first feared: “ No, not as bad. There’s a chance of him playing tomorrow – let’s wait and see,” Mourinho added.

Spurs are without Steven Bergwijn for the game – the Dutchman ineligible due to not being signed ahead of the original tie. Meanwhile, Ben Davies and Victor Wanyama are being assessed, while Harry Kane and Moussa Sissoko are still unavailable.

Tottenham Hotspur v Southampton – Head to head:

Tottenham Hotspur won: 82
Drawn: 50
Southampton won: 64

Tottenham Hotspur v Southampton – Last five meetings (all competitions):

December 5, 2018 – Premier League
Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 Southampton

March 9, 2019 – Premier League
Southampton 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur

September 28, 2019 – Premier League
Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Southampton

January 1, 2020 – Premier League
Southampton 1-0 Tottenham Hotspur

January 25, 2020 – Emirates FA Cup fourth-round
Southampton 1-1 Tottenham Hotspur

Jeevesie’s prediction: Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 Southampton