Hoddle turns back the clock

Hoddle is hoping that his experiences will be sufficient to help him turn things around. "I can't control the external pressures, but I'm aware of them," he said. "I just get on with the job. I've been down this road before so I go back to those days and see how I dealt with it at Chelsea and with England. It was a good grounding for me.

"When Zola scored and England lost 1-0 at Wembley to Italy, everyone wrote us off. But I said then that we would win the group and we did. We went to Rome and qualified for the World Cup. That was a really testing time for me. So I use that experience now.

"As Chelsea manager, I remember going to the Dell at Christmas and the fans were not happy as we were second from bottom. But we pulled it round and qualified for Europe. The next game after Southampton saw us beat Newcastle, who were top of the league, and things turned from there. So there are examples I can go to in my closet.

"If tomorrow is a turning point, it'll be fine by me. I want more wins on the board. I'm not happy with that. It has got to start tomorrow. But there's no magic wand, just because I played here a long time.

"I'm obviously aware what's going on outside the club. It goes with the territory of being a manager in the Premiership. But I'm working extremely hard with the staff and all the players here and I am focused on getting a result against Southampton.

"My focal point at the moment is working with my team and not on what is going on outside. I am preparing to get a result that might put us on a run.

"If there is some external pressure on me rather than the players, then I will take it. I don't want that pressure on them and that is important."

Simon Davies is doubtful tomorrow with a groin strain and Ledley King is a certain not to start.

Meanwhile, Southampton midfielder Matt Oakley says there are no ill-feelings towards his former manager. He said: "Anybody would have done the same in his position. He was good for Southampton because he changed the culture of the club."

Kevin Phillips, a transfer target for Hoddle while the striker was at Sunderland, has also warned his Southampton team-mates against complacency.

Saints are unbeaten this season and go into the game on the back of four straight clean sheets. But he said: "Let's not underestimate them because of the pressure their players and manager are under.

"Let's not get too carried away. We know Spurs are a good team and teams want to beat us because we're tough to beat. But I am sure a lot of our players may have a point to prove to Hoddle.

"It's a game we can impose ourselves on and make ourselves more comfortable in the league."