A look at Tottenham’s excellent Boxing Day record

Follow us on Google Discover

We take a look at Tottenham Hotspur’s record over the last ten years on Boxing Day.

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino

Tottenham Hotspur have enjoyed plenty of post-Christmas cheer in recent years. In fact, Spurs last tasted defeat on Boxing Day 2003, when a double from Patrik Berger gave Portsmouth all three points at Fratton Park.

Since that game, Spurs have won eight out of eleven on the 26^th of December, including three wins over Aston Villa. In 2006, a double from Jermain Defoe saw Martin Jol’s side overcome Villa at White Hart Lane to leapfrog their opponents in the table.

Defoe had a very different afternoon when Spurs beat Villa by the same score in 2010. The striker was sent off in the first half for an elbow on James Collins, as Rafael van der Vaart’s double helped Tottenham extend their unbeaten run to seven games.

Spurs’ most emphatic Boxing Day win over Villa came at Villa Park in 2012. Defoe opened the scoring for Spurs before Gareth Bale struck a remarkable second half hat-trick. The win moved Andre Villas Boas’ side above Everton and into 4^th place in the league.

Villa aren’t the only side Tottenham have played three times on the 26^th of December over the last ten years. Between 2007 and 2010, Spurs played Fulham on three consecutive Boxing Days. The first meeting saw Tottenham thrash Fulham 5-1 thanks to goals from Robbie Keane, Tom Huddlestone and Defoe. However, Fulham got their revenge the follow two years by holding Tottenham to frustrating goalless draws.

Spurs’ only other Boxing Day disappointment came when West Bromwich Albion took a point from White Hart Lane in 2013. Christian Eriksen’s gave Tim Sherwood the perfect start to his time in charge with a wonderful free-kick, before West Brom’s Jonas Olsson levelled things up just two minutes later.

There have been two successive Boxing Day wins for Spurs since that slip up against the Baggies. Eriksen and Harry Kane scored the decisive goals to take all three points from Leicester City in 2014. Last season, Kane scored two and Tom Carroll added another, as Spurs brushed aside 17^th placed Norwich City at White Hart Lane.

This year, Tottenham have to wait an extra two days for their post-Christmas fixture. Mauricio Pochettino’s side make the trip to Southampton, and they will be hoping to continue their festive form.