Full-time: Watford 2-1 Tottenham
The Hornets make it four wins a row and 12 points from 12. Third in the league, they are looking really good and you could forgive Watford supporters for having to pinch themselves. That was a brave performance and, in the end, they got what they deserved. As for Spurs, stung by two set-pieces, they were desperately flat.
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90+5 min: It’s Eriksen who takes, but his effort is cleared. Then comes the corner, which Danny Rose volleys into oblivion. That should be that for Watford.
90+4 min: And Janmaat clumsily upends Moura, and Trippier has a free-kick, 20 yards from goal ...
90+4 min: Trippier plays a tricky ball into the box but Kabasele hacks clear. 90 seconds or so to play.
90+2 min: Success and Deeney take it in turns to shield the ball from Sanchez and co in a pocket of Vicarage Road. They’re determined to close this out. Deeney’s led by example – again.
90 min: There will be five added minutes.
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89 min: The ball flies into the box, Kane swivels to establish some space but a foul’s given. For a moment, that looked very dangerous for Watford. Meanwhile, Mariappa’s on for Pererya, as Javi Gracia looks to shore things up at the back.
89 min: Danny Rose is on for Ben Davies.
88 min: Vertonghen and Success collide, and as the Spurs defender looks to restart play quickly, Andre Marriner – rightly – prevents him from doing so. Anyway, Tottenham will go again. Can they?
87 min: Kane heads over! Another fine opportunity for Spurs, as Kane climbs above Cathcart to meet Trippier’s fantastic ball into the box. Kane does the hard part by getting there but heads over. That was a let-off for Watford, who are just beginning to get a little sloppy. It will be a frenetic finish, no doubt.
85 min: Will Hughes, who has been pretty exceptional again, is replaced by Chalobah. For Spurs, on comes Harry Winks. Three great English talents, with Gareth Southgate a fan of each.
84 min: A big chance goes begging for Spurs! Llorente is a little slow to recognise Vertonghen’s flick into the box and Foster is quickest to react. The Tottenham defender did well, whether he meant it or not, to divert a deep cross towards Llorente, who was in plenty of space, but the Spaniard could not connect.
83 min: Eriksen shoots from distance after a neat Spurs triangle, but it’s never troubling Ben Foster. Down on the touchline, Nathaniel Chalobah is about to come on for Watford.
81 min: Here comes Llorente, in place of Alderweireld. Well, Spurs are going for it, switching to a back four and Moura will help support the front two. Up the other end, Success was almost in for a minute, but Vorm quickly stole in.
79 min: Watford are proving stubborn opponents for Spurs, who are forced back time and again as they look to re-build. As well as re-build, they need to recover. They seem a little shell-shocked.
78 min: Two goals in seven minutes and, as it stands, Watford are heading third in the table. Success is giving Watford a real outlet, though he can be a little kamikaze defensively.
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77 min: Well, that had been more than coming. Spurs look terribly flat, as does the away dugout. There are no real game-changers for Pochettino on the bench. Fernando Llorente’s warming up.
GOAL! Watford 2-1 Tottenham (Cathcart, 76)
Craig Cathcart crashes home from the corner.
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75 min: Janmaat bursts in to the box, he does brilliantly. The wing-back stands up a neat cross at the back stick but Hughes cannot head on target. It almost drops kindly but Spurs clear their lines. Watford have a corner. Pochettino’s team are on the ropes.
74 min: Janmaat crosses from the right, and Pererya scoops the ball out of the sky beautifully. He tries to weave his way into the box but Spurs stand firm. Vorm boots the ball back upfield and, at the moment, anywhere will do for Tottenham.
72 min: Watford are guilty of running into trouble, with Success overplaying on the edge of the box. The ball runs free for Kane, but just as he looks to pull the trigger, Daryl Janmaat intercepts. That prompts Watford to pile forward, winning a throw-in deep inside the Tottenham half.
70 min: Isaac Success replaces Andre Gray. Vicarage Road is bouncing. How will Tottenham respond? Javi Gracia’s frantically waving about something on the touchline. His team have played well.
GOAL! Watford 1-1 Tottenham (Deeney, 69)
Troy Deeney heads home Holebas’s fine free-kick. A marvellous glancing header, with the skipper flicking the ball into the corner, beating Kane and Alli to it. That’s well deserved too.
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67 min: Dembele’s booked for a foul on Hughes, and Tottenham have another free-kick to defend ...
66 min: Watford strike the woodwork! Deeney does brilliantly, bullying Sanchez off the ball before raiding inside off the byline. His devilish cross is diverted on to the bar by Toby Alderweireld, who had Andre Gray for company. It cannons off the crossbar and Spurs survive. Watford are trying.
65 min: Spurs win a corner, though Holebas is not happy about it. It did flick off his heels. It’s poor and then when Dembele sends it back in, Foster easily gobbles it up. Spurs have simply not done enough so far – but lead, nevertheless.
63 min: Pochettino must be deliberating a change or two. As for Watford, a quick stat, they have it all to do if they are to win their first four league matches of a season for only the second time in their entire history. The last time? 1988-89.
60 min: Andre Gray has a pop! Hughes does well on the edge of the area, passing over the baton to Gray, who unleashes at goal from just outside the box. It’s fierce but always rising. Watford haven’t done a lot wrong here, Spurs are fortunate to be in front.
59 min: Ah, drat. It’s straight into the Spurs wall.
58 min: Capoue digs in to steal the ball away from Kane after Trippier does well on the right. That turnover of possession is the basis for another Watford attack, and another Watford free-kick. Michel Vorm is lining up his wall, with Holebas readying himself to fire at goal, 25 yards out.
57 min: It’s a good ball in, but Kabasele cannot get it under control at the back post. The Watford attack quickly fizzles out and Spurs fly forward. They, too, squander possession and now Watford have a chance to pry in search of an equaliser.
56 min: Watford haven’t let that get to them. Gray does well to buy a foul out of Sanchez on halfway, allowing his team-mates to move upfield. Holebas will swing it in from the left ...
GOAL! Watford 0-1 Tottenham (Doucoure og, 54)
An untidy goal, in a messy game. It’s a comical goal, really and very fortuitous. Foster charges out of goal, to meet Alli’s dink into the box, shoving over Kabasele in the process. Moura keeps it alive, dragging it across goal and it cruelly bounces off the Watford midfielder and squeezes in at the near post.
Watford’s Abdoulaye Doucoure scores an own goal giving Tottenham Hotspur their first goal of the game. Photograph: Nigel French/PA
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51 min: Marriner pulls up Capoue, but Tottenham wanted the advantage. The Watford midfielder, once of Spurs, is booked. Tottenham go again, but they have to start from square one, as Watford get a few bodies behind the ball.
50 min: Eriksen has an effort from distance, but it’s straight at Foster, really. Spurs seem to be building some momentum.
49 min: Deeney comes deep to collect the ball, but Tottenham turn it over. They’re having a go.
48 min: Eriksen has a go from distance, it’s a neat lay-off by Moura, about 20 yards from goal. He hits it with venom, but Ben Foster gathers.
46 min: Tottenham fly down the right, jumping straight on the front foot. Trippier plays a long throw in to Kane, with Spurs arguing he’s hauled to the ground but Andre Marriner’s unmoved.
At Turf Moor, Manchester United are two goals to the good. Romelu Lukaku’s scored twice:
Half-time: Watford 0-0 Tottenham Hotspur
Goalless at the interval, then.
45 min: There will be one added minute.
44 min: Alli’s again involved, but cannot direct his effort on target from a sweet free-kick. Meanwhile, Claudio Ranieri’s at Vicarage Road this afternoon.
41 min: Hughes nips in to nudge the ball away from Moura but Doucoure gets a little unlucky, and plays Watford into trouble. Holebas eventually clears but Tottenham rack up another corner. It comes to the edge of the box but Ben Davies launches it high and handsomely wide.
37 min: A trademark training ground routine, as Trippier shifts the ball for Eriksen to swing in towards the back post. There’s Alli and Kane, queuing up to tap home, but the flag’s up. Alli made a real mess of it anyway, if you must know.
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35 min: And now Moura wins another corner.
33 min: For a split second, Roberto Pererya looks like he might have a penalty, but he seems to go to ground long before Davinson Sanchez makes any contact with him. That was the fruits of a neat through ball by Deeney, who’s growing into this.
30 min: Spurs are just trying to up the ante a bit. As for Watford, they’re getting a little frustrated. Jose Holebas has just wellied a water bottle in the direction of a hapless cameraman. Talking of Holebas:
29 min: Eriksen plays a devious, low ball into the box. Sanchez is lurking but cannot make any contact, while Kane is held off by Cathcart. It was the right idea, but Watford snuff it out.
27 min: Moura bites at the ankles of Ben Foster, but the Watford goalkeeper outsmarts him. The hosts have been pretty comfortable, but their front two of Deeney and Gray have been pretty anonymous, they’ve not seen much of the ball.
25 min: A puff of the cheeks from Pochettino says it all. His team have done OK, but they look a bit slippery in defence. Spurs have not had things all their own way. They need to get Eriksen more involved.
21 min: Lucas Moura looks to be through on goal, with Alli sliding him in. He bears down on Ben Foster, but Kabasele jumps in to make life difficult. Between the Watford duo, they hound out Moura, who goes to ground. Neat pass by Alli.
20 min: Hughes is pulled up for a challenge on halfway, so Tottenham can get bodies forward once more. It’s been a pretty even start, with both teams showing glimpses of quality to back up the early-season optimism that surrounds them.
17 min: Deeney heads over and it’s a slick move by Watford. Doucoure twinkles his way past Dembele on halfway, and as Watford switch play from right-to-left and back again, Janmaat stands one up for Deeney to attack. It’s never troubling Vorm, but that was a half-chance for the hosts.
15 min: Ah, Kane’s crowded out, but Tottenham are probing. Moura’s flagged offside but he’s very lively. That’s promising for Pochettino and co.
14 min: And now Spurs win a corner, which Kieran Trippier – the Bury Beckham? – will fizz in ...
13 min: Watford just enjoyed a little spell of possession but Craig Cathcart’s ball forward is poor. Aimless, really. That move swiftly breaks down and Tottenham look to re-build once more.
11 min: Alli goes close! He almost loops a header over Ben Foster. Toby Alderweireld plays a neat diagonal ball over the top of the Watford defence and Alli, in acres, leaps to guide the ball goalwards. It was not all that far from heading in.
9 min: Davinson Sanchez has made a great start, stifling another promising Watford move.
8 min: Elton John’s up in the posh seats,, smiling away. Kabasele’s just getting a bit of treatment after picking up a knock in that collision a moment ago.
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7 min: Kabasele does well, sliding in on Kane but Tottenham win themselves a corner, but it comes to nothing. Meanwhile, an email, courtesy of Rob. “I note some TV outlets are encouraging fans to use the hashtag “WATTOT” to tweet their thoughts about this match. Will they therefore advocate the use of the rather more provocative “TOTWAT” for the reverse fixture?”
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5 min: Tottenham pile on a little pressure, with Watford whacking the ball off one another as Spurs earn a comical throw. But Moura gets the cross caught up in his feet. He seems a totally different proposition this season, though.
4 min: Spurs break with it, and Dele Alli dinks a nice pass forward for Kane to run on to. He faces up the Watford defenders, slides the ball across goal where Moura is lurking but Kabasele’s there to intercept. And Watford clear their lines.
3 min: A hopeful ball by Davies in search of Lucas Moura proves just that, with Ben Foster scooping it up no problem. He pumps it long and Watford attempt to maintain the pressure.
2 min: Sanchez does well to cut on Andre Gray, with the striker just about to open up his legs and drive towards the box. Janmaat then crosses from the resulting throw but Michel Vorm calmly gathers.
1 min: Vicarage Road is sunbathing, one half’s in the shade and other basking in it. Watford start well, with Hughes picking the ball up from deep. Tottenham turn it over but Watford recycle the ball.
Peeeeeeeeeeeeep!
Tottenham’s Christian Eriksen get things under way in the Hertfordshire sunshine.
From the Championship, earlier:
More on Kane, whose started the season with a bang. Last September, he notched 13 goals in eight appearances for club and country. He has two goals in his past two games and is a man in form. In this meeting last year, he and Dele Alli were both at the double in a 4-1 win. Same again?
Over in Cardiff, a classic is unfolding:
And Marouane Fellaini starts at Turf Moor:
Headline team news: Pochettino makes three changes, with Michel Vorm in for Hugo Lloris, while Danny Rose and Eric Dier drop to the bench to make way for Ben Davies and Davinson Sanchez. Javi Gracia, meanwhile, names an unchanged team in the league for a fourth consecutive game. As we’ve said, there’s no Son for Spurs because he’s been busy staving off military service:
The teams!
Watford: Foster, Janmaat, Cathcart, Kabasele, Holebas, Hughes, Capoue, Doucoure, Pereyra, Deeney, Gray
Subs: Gomes, Mariappa, Femenia, Masina, Chalobah, Success, Sema
Tottenham Hotspur: Vorm, Trippier, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Sanchez, Davies, Dembele, Eriksen, Dele, Lucas, Kane
Subs: Gazzaniga, Rose, Walker-Peters, Dier, Wanyama, Winks, Llorente
Referee: Andre Marriner
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Preamble
Watford were not supposed to be this good, with three successive wins their best-ever start to a top-flight season. They and Tottenham Hotspur are level on points coming into this one and Mauricio Pochettino has already outlined the task at hand at Vicarage Road. “After three games they’re over the moon,” he said. “If we’re not ready and we believe because we beat Manchester United 3-0 that all is fantastic, I think we are going to crash.” Spurs will hope to keep the feel-good factor from that victory in check, though they will have to do so without Son Heung-min who is on international duty. He won Asian Games gold with South Korea on Saturday, securing an exemption from military service in the process. History is on their side, too, with Spurs having won seven of their past 10 meetings, losing none. And we all know Harry Kane’s prolific in August, but can he do it in September? In the meantime, hear from Eric Dier:
Kick-off: 4pm.
‘I think we’re focused purely on winning,” says Eric Dier. “The mentality is solely focused on that. We’ve been together now for four years and everything else is ingrained in us now, so it’s just really down to winning and I think that’s the mentality within the whole squad. In the past, Man United was the kind of game where maybe we wouldn’t have seen it out, or we might have suffered more in the first half. But we went there and we got the job done.”
Tottenham’s encounter with Watford on Sunday will pit two of the Premier League’s flawless starters against each other. The Hornets’ strong start to the season has caught many by surprise, but Spurs have also exceeded expectations, not least with their comprehensive victory at Old Trafford on Monday …
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