Revenge is sweet, and this will have tasted even better than brandy butter to Southampton.

The return of Tottenham manager Glenn Hoddle and centre-back Dean Richards to Southampton was always going to be a bitter affair, given the feelings of betrayal felt on the south coast when they shipped out to the capital.

In his programme message, Saints chairman Rupert Lowe said fans should accept the pair's decision to pursue their careers elsewhere "with good grace".

But he added: "I cannot think of a better game to win in order to contribute to our points tally. I have no doubt that everybody at the club feels the same way."

That explains the rapture with which this victory, secured by James Beattie's header, was greeted by a record crowd at Southampton's new St Mary's Ground.

Such delight could hardly have been anticipated after a first half of almost unremitting tedium.

Christian Ziege threatened on a couple of occasions. First he had a low, angled shot which bounced not too far wide of the right-hand post, then struck an accurate volley which Paul Jones turned aside.

The most excitement came when fourth official Paul Durkin was forced to act as peacemaker between Gordon Strachan and Spurs assistant boss John Gorman.

The pair had a heated exchange of words on the touchline after Mauricio Taricco and Chris Marsden were involved in a shoving match.

Teddy Sheringham wasted a good chance in the 37th minute when Les Ferdinand's neat little header opened up the Saints defence.

The Spurs striker was unmarked but struggled to line up a shot and by the time he managed it Paul Williams came diving in to block. In the last minute of the half, Ferdinand held his head in his hands after another chance went begging.

The ball fell to him during a goalmouth scramble when he was only 10 yards out but somehow sliced wide when he should have scored.

It was a completely different match after the break. As far as Saints were concerned, the gloves were off - literally in Marian Pahars' case.

From being second-best and looking lacklustre, Saints emerged full of purpose and chased every ball.

Two minutes into the second half good running by Pahars saw Anders Svensson go clean through, only eight yards out. A low shot either side of Neil Sullivan would have done but he went for power and the Spurs keeper was able to parry.

Immediately afterwards at the other end, Ferdinand appeared to have done the hard work when he climbed to meet Steffen Freund's cross to the near-post but headed wide of the target.

Saints keeper Jones then nearly handed Tottenham the lead. Jones ran out his goal to chase a loose ball but Anthony Gardner won the race and toe-poked across to Sheringham, who could only manage a weak shot that Williams was able to clear off the line with little fuss.

When Southampton scored through Beattie in the 56th minute, it could hardly have been more route one.

As Spurs pushed out after clearing a free-kick, Williams, on the halfway line, lofted a ball so high into the Tottenham box that a rugby union full-back would have been proud of it.

Beattie read the flight of the ball better than anyone when it dropped and jumped early to beat Sullivan and head over the Spurs keeper into the net.

A brilliant piece of play by Pahars in the 65th minute nearly saw Saints extend their lead. A sidestep by the little Latvian left Poyet for dead, and a one-two with Marsden put him through to hammer a rising shot that Sullivan somehow managed to get a hand to.

In the last five minutes another chance was missed by Spurs when Ferdinand chose to head across goal rather than at the target.

Beattie shot feebly straight at Sullivan, and shortly afterwards cheers rang around the ground as Richards was booked for pulling back the same player. That, no doubt, was the icing on the Christmas cake.

Teams:

Southampton: Jones, Dodd, Williams, Lundekvam, Bridge, Telfer, Delap, Svensson, Marsden, Beattie, Pahars (Ormerod 82).

Subs Not Used: Moss, El Khalej, Petrescu, Le Tissier.

Goals: Beattie 56.

Tottenham: Sullivan, Taricco, Richards, King, Ziege, Freund (Sherwood 71), Poyet (Rebrov 86), Anderton, Gardner (Davies 76), Ferdinand, Sheringham.

Subs Not Used: Keller, Perry.

Booked: Gardner, Richards, Taricco.

Att: 31,719

Ref: P Jones (Loughborough).