Image Credit: Evening Standard
By Lee Clow 18 January 2020 | Premier League
A goal line clearance was needed in injury time to deny Tottenham a victory over Watford after Troy Deeney saw his penalty saved by Paulo Gazzaniga In an intense encounter at Vicarage Road.
The game started very brightly between the sides with both numbers 7s on the pitch looking sharp. Gerard Deulofeu had a shot fall wide of the goal in the opening minutes while Heung Min-Son troubled the Watford defence with his pace and trickery.
It didn’t take too long for Tottenham to dominate with the visitors controlling possession. Spurs continued to create chances throughout the first half, but they were let down in the final third.
On the half hour mark, Watford began to settle into the game and create threatening chances. The Spurs defence stayed strong throughout the half but required goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga to make some important saves.
Lucas Moura had a huge chance to score for Tottenham seven minutes before the interval, when he was played in following a break, but the Brazilian was denied well when Ben Foster came rushing out of goal.
Four minutes before time, Troy Deeney came close to breaking the deadlock, but the Watford captain could not get enough pace on his header to beat Gazzaniga.
In the second half Watford came out flying and almost scored within two minutes. Ismaila Sarr managed to break through down the right flank before squaring the ball to Abdoulaye Doucoure who could not divert the ball home past Gazzaniga.
Immediately after, Sarr had a chance to score but the Watford man could not turn it home with Giovani Lo Celso importantly putting him off.
Spurs broke from Watford’s attack and almost took the lead through Dele Alli. Son found space down the right flank and delivered a beautiful ball across the box, but Dele could not direct his header into the net.
Deeney then came close to scoring when he swivelled and unleashed a strike, but Toby Alderweireld was in the way to vitally send the ball wide of the goal.
In a game which was end to end, it was now Tottenham’s chance of the game. Moura excellently held up the ball before releasing Dele who fed the ball towards Son who broke away from the Watford defence and strike towards goal only for it to just rise over the bar.
On the 69th minute, Watford were given a penalty after referee Michael Oliver accused Jan Vertonghen of handball following a block. VAR agreed with the decision and Deeney stood up to take responsibility but saw his penalty saved excellently by Gazzaniga.
As the minutes died down, the game became scrappy with both sides trying to create that one chance to break the deadlock.
Spurs came inches away from a last-minute winner after Serge Aurier squared the ball across the box. Aurier’s delivered towards Erik Lamela whose initial shot was blocked by Craig Cathcart before the ball span across the line only for Ignacio Pussetto to clear it away to keep the scores level. Replays of the goal line technology show the ball was millimetres away from crossing the whole line and giving Tottenham the three points.
The game ended level with Tottenham earning their first clean sheet away from home in over a year while Watford continue their good form under new manager Nigel Pearson. Despite earning a precious clean sheet, Spurs will be concerned that they have failed to score in three consecutive Premier League games – a feat they haven’t done since November 2013.
Tottenham head coach, Jose Mourinho, spoke after the game giving his thoughts on the game, he said: "We played very well. We started the game without a striker but with lots of offensive players. We had the control of the game, especially in the first half, we arrived in dangerous positions, we created chances, but we did not manage to score. I am happy with how we played, our commitment. I think the result is unfair, I think it would have been more unfair if we lost. We are not good at adapting to this style of football. We were quite difficult to play."
Watford boss, Nigel Pearson also spoke to the press: "First and foremost we are trying to get a performance every time we play.”
"They started the game well. We couldn't press them like we would like to but towards the end of the first half in the second half we started to create some really good chances.”
"We could have won it, could have lost it. We know the margins are very small.”
"As long as you go into the game with positive intent and get a committed performance, we know we have the ability and the tools in the box to get enough results, but we have to do that week in, week out.”
"I said to the players that I was really pleased with the way we approached this game, and, on another day, we would have won it."
What’s next?
Tottenham next game in the Premier League is a midweek tie against Norwich City while Watford visit Aston Villa on Tuesday.
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