Tottenham fans take aim at Daniel Levy during goal glut against Southampton | OneFootball

As the goals rained in on the south coast, the under-pressure chairman was not forgotten

Tottenham thrashed sorry Southampton 5-0 at St. Mary's in a confidence-boosting win ahead of the midweek Carabao Cup quarter-final against Manchester United and next Sunday's meeting with Liverpool.

In between, Heung-min Son, Dejan Kulusevski and Pape Matar Sarr also punished an abject Saints, prompting the home fans to openly turn on boss Russell Martin.

Here are three Spurs talking points from the game...

AFP via Getty Images

(Almost) perfect night for Spurs

Such were the depths plumbed by Saints in the first half, it was hard to know how much to read into Spurs' biggest win of the season.

It was embarrassingly easy for Ange Postecoglou's depleted side to stroll into an unassailable lead, with Maddison opening the scoring practically from kick-off and Spurs walking in four further goals to put the visitors out of sight by the interval.

Not since Spurs collapsed to a 6-1 defeat at Newcastle in April 2023 can a Premier League team have started a game so passively and so wide open at the back.

That result did for Spurs' interim head coach Cristian Stellini and this will surely mark the end for Martin after an open and ugly mutiny from home supporters, who called for their manager to go and made their feelings about his football known with some colourful language.

Spurs were clinical and deserve credit, with Maddison and Son, in particular, revelling in the space afforded by Martin's side and the pair ruthlessly demonstrating their quality in the final third. But Saints were appalling until something of a second-half rally, as Spurs sat off and conserved energy.

Postecoglou will reason that you can only beat what is in front of you but it would be a stretch to describe this as a turning point for Spurs, who won for the second time in nine matches.

Aside from a first-half injury to Destiny Udogie, it was nonetheless the perfect occasion for Spurs, who earned a confidence-boosting win ahead of Thursday's visit of United and played most of the game at half-pace.

Postecoglou was able to rest Son, Maddison and Dominic Solanke in the second half, while Djed Spence, who made the opening goal, and Lucas Bergvall made positive impacts on their first starts in the Premier League.

Whether this game will be remembered as a notable juncture in Spurs' season or even Postecoglou's tenure remains to be seen but it was undoubtedly the perfect fixture at the perfect time for the Australian depleted and fatigued side.

AFP via Getty Images

Spurs fans call for Levy's head

The Saints fans were not the only ones in a mutinous mood, as the away end at St. Mary's vented against Spurs chairman Daniel Levy from the first minute.

Even before Maddison rolled the visitors in front with Spurs' fastest-ever Premier League goal, there had been a volley of "We want Levy out" - the first of many throughout the night.

Even as Spurs racked up the goals and strolled through the second half, the chants continued, leaving the TV cameras seeking out Levy at regular intervals.

By contrast, there was loud support for Postecoglou, as supporters made it plain where they feel the blame lies for Spurs' difficult season so far.

Ironically, though, in turning the heat on Levy, fans might have made the head coach's position more precarious; when the spotlight has fallen on the chairman in the past, he has tended to sacrifice the manager.

There is no indication that Postecoglou is under pressure, although the United game feels hugely significant for the Australian.

Postecoglou tenure has largely been free from the anger at Levy that characterised the campaign before his arrival but that now appears to be changing, with the controversial chairman back in the firing line for fans.

Andrew Matthews/PA Wire

Udogie injury a concern but Spence impresses

It has taken Spence two-and-a-half years since joining Spurs from Middlesbrough to finally start a game for the club but the full-back wasted no time in making his mark.

In his first involvement, Spence spun away from Flynn Downes, drove forward and slipped in Maddison to open the scoring.

It felt like a remarkable start for the 24-year-old, although, admittedly, the way Southampton unravelled somewhat took the gloss off his immediate impact.

Still, Postecoglou can be reassured by a mature showing on both sides of defence from Spence, who switched to left-back after Udogie was injured.

With the Italian now a doubt for Thursday night, Spence may be needed to start again against United at left-back, which will be a far sterner examination.

If he plays, that game should be a better indicator of whether Spence deserves more minutes in the second half of the season but he can look forward with more confidence after a positive impact here.