MY ACCOUNT
Davinson Sanchez scored a stoppage-time header as Tottenham edged out Premier League strugglers Watford 1-0 on New Year’s Day.
Watford headed into Saturday’s meeting at Vicarage Road on a five-game losing streak but seemed to have halted that poor run thanks in large part to the efforts of goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann.
But Bachmann’s heroics were ultimately in vain when Sanchez popped up in the 96th minute to secure all three points for the visitors after a medical emergency in the crowd had stopped play temporarily.
Tottenham are yet to lose since Antonio Conte’s arrival and move within two points of fourth-placed Arsenal following their defeat to Manchester City.
Conte’s side boasted over 70 per cent of the first-half possession but were unable to make their dominance pay.
Sergio Reguilon came close to getting Spurs ahead before the interval, with the wing-back drawing a fine diving stop out of Bachmann prior to Harry Kane curling narrowly wide following Imran Louza’s lapse in concentration.
The same Spurs duo almost broke the deadlock after the break. Reguilon saw a strike deflect just off target, while Bachmann tipped over from Kane.
Joshua King then forced a magnificent save from Hugo Lloris in a rare Watford attack, with Son Heung-min nudging wide with an audacious flick at the other end.
Bachmann was then on hand once more to deny Son, though Spurs’ efforts finally proved fruitful in stoppage time.
Son turned provider with a wonderful delivery from a free-kick, with Sanchez on hand to head in from point-blank range.
What does it mean? Spurs gain ground in top-four race
Arsenal suffered late heartbreak against Man City before Spurs’ kick-off at Watford and Conte’s side capitalised with their own last-gasp heroics to close the gap on Mikel Arteta’s Gunners, who they face next in the league while still boasting two games in hand.
That was Spurs’ first win in the league in four games at Watford (their last having come on New Year’s Day in 2017), who have won just one of their last eight league games and are sitting just two points above 18th-placed Burnley, having also played two games more than Sean Dyche’s team.
Brilliant Bachmann denied deserved clean sheet
Bachmann’s brilliance almost guided Watford to their first Premier League clean sheet of the season, but Tottenham’s latest ever winning goal in the competition (95:45), since Opta began recording data, ensured the Hornets left empty-handed.
Watford’s goalkeeper produced nine saves – only against Man City has he managed as many stops in the league this season.
Dennis underwhelms
Emmanuel Dennis was omitted from the Nigeria squad from the African Cup of Nations, with the national team suggesting Watford had not cooperated with releasing the forward for the competition, though Claudio Ranieri assured this was not the case on Friday.
But the 24-year-old, who has either scored or assisted 59 per cent of Watford’s 22 league goals this campaign, appeared a shadow of his usual self before his half-time removal, managing just five passes and winning just over 20 per cent of his nine duels.
Key Opta Facts
– Ranieri has lost each of his last five Premier League games against fellow Italian managers. In contrast, Conte has never lost a Premier League match against an Italian manager (W5 D1) – three of those wins have come against Ranieri.
– Since Ranieri’s first game in charge in October, Watford have lost more Premier League matches than any other side in this period (nine).
– Son has been directly involved in 23 goals in his last 22 Premier League appearances against newly-promoted sides (14 goals, nine assists).
– Son has also been directly involved in seven goals in his last seven Premier League starts for Tottenham against Watford (five goals, two assists).
– Sanchez has scored two goals in his last five Premier League games for Tottenham, more than he had netted in his first 108 games in the competition (one).
What’s next?
Tottenham now switch focus to facing Chelsea in the EFL Cup semi-final. Watford visit Leicester City in the FA Cup.
