Goalkeeper Kasey Keller was unable to hold Beattie’s fierce free-kick, allowing Michael Svensson to open the scoring for Southampton after only 12 minutes and the home side were unlucky not to take a bigger lead into the half time interval.

But Gordon Strachan’s team took a firm control on proceedings in the first 11 minutes after the break as Beattie set up Jo Tessem before Anders Svensson walked through Tottenham’s defence to score a third and Beattie deservedly got his name on the scoresheet 10 minutes from time to round off the scoring.

Tottenham struggled to cope with Southampton’s passing and movement over the 90 minutes – and they badly missed influential defender Dean Richards, who failed to overcome a persistent Achilles problem in time.

The visitors’ goal was under pressure right from the first whistle and defender Stephen Carr was fortunate not to slice a clearance into his own net in only the sixth minute.

But Southampton did not have long to wait for the breakthrough as Michael Svensson bundled home the ball from close range in the 12th minute after Keller had failed to hold Beattie’s shot.

The tall striker, whose 14 goals this season have taken him to the verge of an England call-up, was causing all sorts of problems for the visitors and he almost created a second goal on 19 minutes for Tessem – but Keller claimed in the nick of time.

Tottenham’s best hope of a goal in the early stages came from Republic of Ireland striker Robbie Keane but even he was misfiring as he shot well wide in the 21st minute when given a sight on goal.

Southampton were forced to make a change midway through the first half with Anders Svensson replacing the injured Chris Marsden – but the switch had no detrimental effect on their impetus as they continued to surge forward in search of a second goal.

Svensson was keen to make an immediate impact and would have doubled the lead on 33 minutes but for the brilliance of Keller as he flung himself to his left to divert his low drive for a corner.

But Saints received a piece of good fortune to ensure they took a 1-0 lead into half time five minutes later.

Keane fired a first time shot goalwards which took a heavy deflection off defender Claus Lundekvam but the ball went inches wide of the left post – much to the relief of goalkeeper Antti Niemi.

Hoddle brought on Darren Anderton for centre-back Chris Perry at the start of the second half as he tried to reorganise but his team found themselves further behind within four minutes of the restart.

Wayne Bridge fed Beattie and his defence-splitting pass was seized upon by Tessem, who fired an unstoppable shot inside the far post.

Worse was to follow for the visitors as Anders Svensson added a third seven minutes later with Hoddle’s defence in disarray.

Svensson was allowed to stroll 40 yards and, as three defenders backed off, he buried a right foot shot past Keller from 15 yards.

Little was going right for Tottenham as Keane and strike partner Terry Sheringham had shots saved while the former missed an open goal in the 64th minute after he had rounded Niemi.

Tottenham and Hoddle’s misery was complete in the 79th minute when Beattie fired home from close range after Keller had been unable to hold his initial header.