Spurs v Watford Previous Fixture

Match Review: Watford v Spurs – Premier League

Spurs’ perfect start to the season ended at Vicarage Road on Sunday as goals from Troy Deeney and Craig Cathcart ensured Watford maintained their 100% record and condemned Spurs to their first loss of the season.

FULL-TIME: A disappointing afternoon at Vicarage Road as we drop our first points of the season after a second-half comeback from the home side. #COYS pic.twitter.com/fNTmTGUoHv

— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) September 2, 2018

It was a lacklustre performance from Spurs and the manor of the goals conceded – both from set pieces – will undoubtedly irk manager Mauricio Pochettino and his coaching staff, particularly after he warned his players they could ‘crash’ against Watford after their impressive victory against Manchester United at Old Trafford.

In a scrappy first half Spurs had the better chances despite not registering a shot on target and Lucas Moura had a penalty shout turned down after Watford defender Christian Kabasele brought him down in the area. It was Lucas who was arguably Spurs’ brightest player in the first half, and the whole of the match, as he constantly looked a threat on the ball whereas Dele Alli asked questions of the Watford defence with his late runs from midfield, almost looping a header over Watford goalkeeper Ben Foster after Toby Alderweireld’s angled ball to him.

After Pochettino’s half time team talk Spurs looked an improved side, Christian Eriksen had two efforts saved by Foster within the first five minutes of the second half which signalled Spurs’ intent. The goal was coming, however it came in bizarre circumstances as Watford’s French midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure turned Lucas Moura’s cross into his own net. The goal went down as Doucoure’s despite the best efforts of Eriksen to get a touch as the ball went past him.

However instead of pressing home their advantage, Spurs inexplicably took their foot off the gas and as such had to weather the Watford storm. They were close to conceding an own goal when Toby Alderweireld turned Deeney’s cross onto the bar and the equaliser came only a few minutes after that, with captain Deeney glancing home Jose Holebas’ free kick past a helpless Michel Vorm.

Soon after it was another set piece that undone Spurs, this time Northern Irish international Craig Cathcart powered in a header from Holebas’ corner to turn the game around and put Watford 2-1 up.

Fernando Llorente was sent on as Spurs looked to find an equaliser but it was not to be and Harry Kane headed over late on to cap off a frustrating game for him personally and for the team as a whole.

👏 Most home points in the Premier League since Javi Gracia was appointed @WatfordFC Head Coach on Jan 21.

23: Watford
23: Liverpool
22: Manchester City
21: Arsenal
21: Manchester United
21: Tottenham pic.twitter.com/jCT4b4ipBr

— Sky Sports Statto (@SkySportsStatto) September 2, 2018

Pochettino Unhappy with Performance

In hindsight the Watford game may prove to be a tough fixture for the top 6 this season as Vicarage Road has been a fortress for the Hornets. Manager Javi Gracia boasts an impressive record at Vicarage Road in recent times as Watford have lost only 1 of their last 11 home games in the Premier League under his stewardship.  A careless approach having taken the lead is a lesson that Spurs will surely learn moving forward in this most exciting of seasons.

Spurs v Watford Attendance

Vicarage Road: 20,141

Starting Line-ups: Spurs v Watford

Tottenham Hotspur:  Vorm, Trippier, Alderweireld, Sanchez, Vertonghen, Davies, Dembele, Eriksen, Alli, Lucas, Kane

Watford: Foster, Janmaat, Cathcart, Kabasele, Holebas, Hughes, Doucoure, Capoue, Pererya, Gray, Deeney

Poch’s Comments

“We need to show more respect to this competition. It’s difficult for me to understand after four years of us being contenders. Today, from the beginning, we needed to go there like a lion… If you want to win you need to show that character. Maybe you cannot play so well but you need to win this type of game if you want to be a contender at the end.”

Man of the Match

From a Spurs perspective the man of the match was Lucas Moura. He constantly looked a threat with his direct dribbling at the Watford defence and grabbed the assist to Doucoure’s own goal.

What’s next for Tottenham Hotspur?

Because of the international break Spurs will have two weeks until they can get back to winning ways, which may actually benefit them, before a mouth-watering tie against Liverpool. Things do not get any easier after that as their Champions League campaign gets underway with a trip to the San Siro to face Inter Milan.

To see how this game plays out this year in VIP style, book your Spurs v Watford Tickets and Hospitality package today!

Spurs v Watford Last Season

Spurs defeated Watford with ease as they extended the distance between themselves and 5th place Chelsea. Harry Kane closes in on Mo Salah by one, and Dele Alli scores his fourth Premier League goal in his last five matches.

Tottenham were able to find holes in the Watford defence almost immediately and registered two shots within the space of seven minutes. Dembele demonstrated his trickery on the left flank before whipping it into the middle for Eric Dier; who couldn’t quite keep his header from rising over the bar.

Dele Alli opened the scoring for Spurs in the 16th minute. Kieran Trippier started the move off by curling a dangerous cross into the box from the right side. The goal, it must be said, had come via a terrible mistake from the Watford keeper. Although Trippier’s play was faultless, the keeper dropped it when attempting to pluck it from the air. He made an absolute hash of it, and Eriksen flicked it on to Dele Alli. Alli took control and fired into the bottom corner of the open net.

Watford had a chance to equalise in the 26th minute. Eric Dier’s pass was intercepted by Capoue. Capoue sent a through ball to Gray who found himself one-on-one with the Spurs skipper, who got down to his left quickly to beat the effort away.

Eriksen had a shot from distance on the half an hour mark after finding himself in acres of space, but his powerful shot dipped the wrong side of the post. Watford had a nice passage of play five minutes later which resulted in a shot from Doucoure. Hugo Lloris scooped up the effort with ease. It was a delightful pass from Will Hughes to set Doucoure up.

Watford had an excellent chance in 43 minutes as Kieran Trippier was nowhere to be seen in his right-back position. Richarlison was left free, and drew a shot across the goal, but his effort was saved again. Immediately after, Alli was dispossessed by Hughes and split the Spurs defence with a pass through to Doucoure. Hugo made an incredible decision to sprint 25 yards and slide tackle Doucoure himself to quell the danger. The skipper had rescued Spurs in the first half.

After a ropey end to the first half, Spurs came out lively after the break. Dele Alli sent a lovely through ball to Heung-Min Son with the outside of his boot, Son then squared the ball to Harry Kane who slipped on the turf. The ball went straight through to Trippier who returned it to the middle, and Kane had a chance to rectify his mistake. Kane just side-footed the ball past Karnezis to double the lead.

Spurs had a chance to add to their lead in the 68th minute. Trippier had an excellent game when attacking Watford. His plays in had been dangerous all game, it is just a shame that he left his defence position naked on quite a few occasions. He sent another excellent ball in from a free kick to the back post. Jan Vertonghen rose to strike a blinding header off the Watford woodwork.

Watford had found the net with twenty minutes to go though. Substitute Gerard Deulofeu side-stepped Lloris and found the net but he was later ruled offside. The exact same situation occurred again for Spurs not three minutes later. Dele Alli floated a ball towards Vertonghen, who found himself at the edge of the Watford penalty area. He controlled the situation with aplomb and passed it on to Harry who curled it past the keeper. There was no need for Kane to be offside; he could see everyone that mattered. He went slightly too early, it just seems like another reminder that the striker is yet to return to his fully fit, alert and clinical self.

Spurs have returned to winning ways. They looked fluid in attack and created a lot of chances. However, if Watford were more clinical in the final third this could have been a very different story. Spurs left serious holes at the back, and no doubt Pochettino will be looking to rectify this on the training ground before the next match.

Spurs v Watford Attendance

Wembley Stadium: 52,675

Starting Line-ups: Spurs v Watford

Tottenham Hotspur: Lloris, Davies, Vertonghen, Sanchez, Trippier, Dier, Dembélé, Eriksen, Alli, Son, Kane

Watford: Karnezis, Mariappa, Cathcart, Kabasele, Holebas, Capoue, Doucoure, Femenia, Hughes, de Andrade, Gray

Poch’s Comments

“I think it was a good night for us. We took the three points which allow us to be in a good position on the table. It is important to win the game, we might not have played the way we wanted – the performance wasn’t great. It has now been 10 months of competition, its hard to keep playing good football. They played well, they created great chances, there were a few situations that showed why Lloris is one of the best keepers in the world.”

Man of the Match

The official award has given to Kieran Trippier. The right-back had been dangerous going forward all game, and it was his dangerous balls in that eventually led to both goals. What Kieran does best is provide the support and skill of an extra midfielder when going forward. He has the vision, the ability, and the pace to cause trouble to opponent fullbacks. He must make sure he can cover his tracks, however, a more clinical side could have punished Spurs a few times.

Personally, I believe that Hugo Lloris deserves to be singled out in this fixture. After a few weeks where the skipper had not quite performed at his best, he seemed to have returned to top form against Watford. He saved Spurs on a couple of occasions when the back four were beaten. He alone kept Watford off the scoresheet.

What’s next for Tottenham Hotspur?

Spurs travel to the West Midlands on Saturday to battle it out with Premier League bottomers West Bromwich Albion. The relegation-bound Baggies have found a new lease of life under caretaker manager Darren Moore, will Spurs be able to send them packing to the Championship.

To see how this game plays out this year in VIP style, book your Spurs v Watford Tickets and Hospitality package today!