The perfect start – our remarkable run of fruitful opening away days

In our last seven campaigns, we have gone unbeaten in our opening two away games in six of those – and we’ll be looking to build on that with a seventh instalment at Bournemouth on Saturday lunchtime (12.30pm UK).

Having drawn 2-2 at Brentford on opening day, if we avoid defeat at the Vitality, it will be the seventh time in eight seasons we have gone without defeat in our opening two away games.

Highlights | Brentford 2-2 Spurs

That run began in 2016/17 as we went unbeaten in our opening six away games and, since then, we have lost just once when it comes to our opening two away fixtures in a campaign – that was a 3-0 defeat at Crystal Palace in September, 2021.

So, as we look ahead to our second away clash of the campaign, here’s a look back at those fruitful opening games of seasons gone by…

2016/17

Everton 1-1 Spurs | 13 August, 2016

Our review of recent opening successes away from home begins with a rather frustrating afternoon at Everton as, in our first game of our, ultimately, unforgettable 2016/17 campaign, we rescued a 1-1 draw at Goodison Park.

Taking on a Toffees side under new direction via Ronald Koeman, the Blues’ high pressing put us on the back foot from the off on Merseyside leading to us falling behind on five minutes as Ross Barkley curled home a free-kick. Yet, once into the second half, we found our feet and got a deserved equaliser through a very clever header Erik Lamela to ensure we took at least a point back to N17.

Stoke City 0-4 Spurs | 10 September, 2016

We were at our scintillating best in our next away outing in 2016/17 though as we put four past Stoke without reply. 

Having made a slow start to proceedings in the Potteries, Heung-Min Son broke the deadlock on 41 minutes, instinctively prodding home, before whipping home a stunning second nine minutes into the second half. A rip-roaring counter attack was finished off by Dele three minutes later to put us three to the good before Harry Kane tapped home from close range to wrap up the scoring.

2017/18

Newcastle United 0-2 Spurs | 13 August, 2017

Starting our 2017/18 campaign on the road at Newcastle, again we endured a slow start before finding our rhythm.

At St James’ Park, we were helped by a numerical advantage shortly into the second period as Jonjo Shelvey was dismissed for the hosts following an off-the-ball incident involving Dele. We then took control of the game with our former number 20 volleying home from close range on the hour mark before Ben Davies secured the points, stroking the ball home after making a late run into the area on 70 minutes.

Everton 0-3 Spurs | 9 September, 2017

We dominated the Toffees on a sunny afternoon on Merseyside as Harry Kane bagged his 100^th goal for the Club.

Opening the scoring at Goodison Park on 28 minutes, Kane grabbed his century in a rather unorthodox manner as his in-swinging cross from the right caught Jordan Pickford off guard and flew into the left-hand corner. Christian Eriksen then added our second three minutes before the break as he was alive to dispatch the rebound from Ben Davies’ saved effort before Kane guided home goal 101 just after the break to seal a perfect afternoon in Liverpool.  

2018/19

Newcastle United 1-2 Spurs | 11 August, 2018

Just as we did in 2017/18, we began the 2018/19 season at St James’ Park and, once again, we came away from the ‘Toon’ with all three points.

The game was ultimately won within the opening 18 minutes in the north east as we edged a flurry of early goals. Jan Vertonghen had put us ahead, albeit in the tightest of margins on eight minutes – his header was seemingly cleared off the line before goal-line technology indicated the ball had crossed over by just 9mm – before Joselu levelled for our hosts three minutes later. Yet, by 18 minutes, we were back in the lead as Dele nodded home Serge Aurier’s pinpoint cross to secure us the win.

Manchester United 0-3 Spurs | 27 August, 2018

We enjoyed one of our greatest ever Premier League nights at Old Trafford at the start of the 2018/19 season as we stormed to a Lucas Moura inspired 3-0 win over Manchester United.

After a slow start, we dominated proceedings in the north west before taking a deserved lead five minutes after the break as Harry Kane headed in from a corner. It was Lucas though who took the spotlight at the Theatre of Dreams as two minutes later he guided home Christian Eriksen’s cutback before he fired home with a superb solo effort six minutes from time to cap a special night for the Brazilian.

2019/20

Man City 2-2 Spurs | 17 August, 2019

Returning to the north west at the start of the 2019/20 season, we enjoyed a classic clash against the champions, drawing 2-2 with Manchester City.

Conceding the opener in Manchester as Raheem Sterling headed in from the angle on 20 minutes, we responded well and were level within three minutes as Erik Lamela curled in from range after being picked out by Tanguy Ndombele.

The Citizens, though, were back ahead 15 minutes later as Sergio Aguero tucked in from four yards out but, once more, we responded well and got our equaliser on the hour mark – Lucas Moura heading home 19 seconds after coming off the bench.

Arsenal 2-2 Spurs | 1 September, 2019

Like our trip to the Etihad, our second away outing of 2019/20 also ended in a 2-2 draw as we travelled to Arsenal for the north London derby

We made the ideal start to the clash with Christian Eriksen was in the right place at the right time to tap home the rebound from Erik Lamela’s parried strike. We were then two ahead on 40 minutes as Harry Kane fired home from the penalty spot.

However, on the stroke of half-time, the Gunners were back in it as Alexander Lacazette rifled in from close range. Then, on 71 minutes, the home side levelled with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang prodding in Matteo Guendouzi’s cross.

2020/21

Southampton 2-5 Spurs | 20 September, 2020

In a season unlike any other as football moved behind-closed doors due to the Coronavirus pandemic, we were involved in two seven-goal thrillers at beginning of the 2020/21 season.

Starting at Southampton, Heung-Min Son and Harry Kane enjoyed a remarkable game on the south coast as they combined for four goals in a 5-2 win at St Mary’s.

Despite having fallen behind to the Saints as Danny Ings hit the target on 32 minutes, Sonny scored the first of four goals for himself - and the first of four assisted by Harry Kane - on the strike of half-time. For each of our next three goals, it was the same combination as the duo’s partnership came to the fore before Kane also got himself on the scoresheet with our fifth on 82 minutes. Incredibly, there was still enough time for the Saints to get a further consolation goal as Ings fired home a penalty in the 90^th minute.

Man Utd 1-6 Spurs | 4 October, 2020

One of our greatest afternoons in the Premier League to date, we humbled Manchester United with a 6-1 win at Old Trafford in October, 2020.

Again, like against Southampton, we conceded the first goal as, with less than two minutes on the clock, United had opened the scoring from the spot. We responded almost instantly with Tanguy Ndombele levelling the scores on four minutes before we then ran riot at the Theatre of Dreams. Heung-Min Son put us ahead on seven minutes after he was played in via a quick free-kick from Harry Kane, who then added our third on 30 minutes before Sonny added his second seven minutes later.

Serge Aurier then got in on the act, adding a fifth six minutes into the second half before Kane completed the rout, converting from the penalty spot with his second and our sixth on 79 minutes.

2022/23

Chelsea 2-2 Spurs | 14 August, 2022

We were involved in another Premier League classic at the start of last season as we battled out a 2-2 draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

We made a sluggish start to the clash in west London and duly fell behind on 19 minutes as Kalidou Koulibaly volleyed home from a corner, but we pulled ourselves back into the encounter with a low, drilled effort from Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg on 68 minutes.

The Blues restored their lead just nine minutes later though as Reece James converted close range, but we once again fought back to take a point, Harry Kane dramatically heading us level deep into stoppage time to send our away end into delirium.

Nottingham Forest 0-2 Spurs | 28 August, 2022

We continued our unbeaten start to the 2022/23 season away at Nottingham Forest as we ran out 2-0 winners against the newly-promoted side.

Harry Kane got us under way in the early stages at the City Ground as he produced a cultured finish from the edge of the box on five minutes. The forward should have doubled his and our tally from the penalty spot on 56 minutes, only for Dean Henderson to make a superb save, but he made no mistake in finding the back of the net when he Kane dived to head home Richarlison's crafty cross to make sure we took all three points back to north London.