02 Sep 2018
Watford shock Spurs to maintain perfect start

Watford maintained their perfect start to the Premier League season as they came from behind to shock Tottenham at Vicarage Road.

Both sides began the match with 100% records but Craig Cathcart's second-half header edged a tight encounter.

Captain Troy Deeney had drawn his side level seven minutes earlier, cancelling out Spurs' fortuitous opener as Watford midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure bundled into his own net.

And Watford held on to win their opening four games of a league campaign for the first time in 30 years and join Liverpool and Chelsea on maximum points at the top of the table.

  • Relive Sunday's action as it happened

In a first half of limited chances, England midfielder Dele Alli had the earliest opportunity for either side with a looping header that only momentarily concerned the back-pedalling Ben Foster, before Deeney headed over for the Hornets from Daryl Janmaat's inviting cross during a particularly quiet opening 20 minutes.

Harry Kane in particular cut a frustrated figure for Spurs and it took until first-half stoppage time for either side to manage a shot on target - Deeney's weak long-range effort collected by Michel Vorm, stand-in for injured Spurs captain Hugo Lloris.

But the visitors found themselves ahead soon after the break, as Doucoure turned into his own net after Watford had failed to clear their lines.

Deeney led the charge as the Hornets looked to respond and saw his cross diverted on to the crossbar by Spurs defender Toby Alderweireld moments before levelling from the resulting corner.

And it was another set-piece that allowed the Hornets to turn the game around on 76 minutes as defender Cathcart nestled a powerful header into the top corner of Vorm's goal to ensure Watford's best ever start to a Premier League season continues.

Gracia's men mean business

Watford had already managed their best ever Premier League start by defeating Crystal Palace, Burnley and Brighton with relative ease, but they proved their position in the early league table was no fluke as they matched Tottenham stride for stride.

The Hornets, with six wins and just one defeat under manager Javi Gracia, boasted a home record second only to Liverpool heading into the weekend and demonstrated exactly why sides have found it so tough at Vicarage Road against a Spurs side buoyed by Monday's 3-0 win at Manchester United.

They kept the visitors at arm's length with few scares during a tight first half and were, on the balance of play, unfortunate to find themselves behind as Frenchman Doucoure deflected the ball beyond team-mate Foster.

Jose Holebas and Roberto Pereyra continued to display excellent understanding down the left flank, although it was skipper Deeney in particular who once again proved the inspiration to his side.

It was Deeney's unrelenting work-rate and willingness to chase the ball down that led to his equalising goal, which gave the Hornets the belief they needed as the momentum swung their way.

It is early days but the table does not mislead. This continues to be a brilliant start from Gracia's side.

More to follow.

  • Line-ups
  • Match Stats
  • Live Text

Line-ups

Watford

  • 26Foster
  • 2Janmaat
  • 15Cathcart
  • 27Kabasele
  • 25Holebas
  • 16Doucouré
  • 29CapoueBooked at 52mins
  • 19HughesSubstituted forChalobahat 86'minutes
  • 37PereyraSubstituted forMariappaat 90'minutes
  • 18GraySubstituted forSuccessat 70'minutesBooked at 90mins
  • 9Deeney

Substitutes

  • 1Gomes
  • 6Mariappa
  • 10Success
  • 11Masina
  • 12Sema
  • 14Chalobah
  • 21Femenía

Tottenham

  • 13Vorm
  • 4AlderweireldSubstituted forLlorenteat 81'minutes
  • 6D Sánchez
  • 5Vertonghen
  • 19DembéléBooked at 68minsSubstituted forWinksat 86'minutes
  • 2Trippier
  • 23Eriksen
  • 20Alli
  • 33DaviesSubstituted forRoseat 89'minutes
  • 27Lucas Moura
  • 10Kane

Substitutes

  • 3Rose
  • 8Winks
  • 12Wanyama
  • 15Dier
  • 16Walker-Peters
  • 18Llorente
  • 22Gazzaniga
Referee:
Andre Marriner
Attendance:
20,141

Match Stats

Home TeamWatfordAway TeamTottenham
Possession
Home34%
Away66%
Shots
Home7
Away11
Shots on Target
Home3
Away2
Corners
Home3
Away10
Fouls
Home9
Away8

Live Text

Match ends, Watford 2, Tottenham Hotspur 1.

Full Time

Second Half ends, Watford 2, Tottenham Hotspur 1.

Attempt missed. Danny Rose (Tottenham Hotspur) right footed shot from the left side of the box is too high following a corner.

Corner, Tottenham Hotspur. Conceded by Troy Deeney.

Danny Rose (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Foul by Daryl Janmaat (Watford).

Booking

Isaac Success (Watford) is shown the yellow card.

Foul by Davinson Sánchez (Tottenham Hotspur).

Troy Deeney (Watford) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Corner, Watford. Conceded by Kieran Trippier.

Substitution

Substitution, Watford. Adrian Mariappa replaces Roberto Pereyra.

Foul by Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur).

Christian Kabasele (Watford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Substitution

Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur. Danny Rose replaces Ben Davies.

Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Foul by Isaac Success (Watford).

Attempt missed. Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Kieran Trippier with a cross.

Substitution

Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur. Harry Winks replaces Mousa Dembélé.

Substitution

Substitution, Watford. Nathaniel Chalobah replaces Will Hughes.

Corner, Tottenham Hotspur. Conceded by José Holebas.

Attempt saved. Christian Eriksen (Tottenham Hotspur) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Dele Alli.

Substitution

Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur. Fernando Llorente replaces Toby Alderweireld.

Foul by Mousa Dembélé (Tottenham Hotspur).

Will Hughes (Watford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Goal!

Goal! Watford 2, Tottenham Hotspur 1. Craig Cathcart (Watford) header from the centre of the box to the top left corner. Assisted by José Holebas with a cross following a corner.

Corner, Watford. Conceded by Toby Alderweireld.

Attempt missed. Roberto Pereyra (Watford) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Daryl Janmaat with a cross.

Kieran Trippier (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Foul by Isaac Success (Watford).

Substitution

Substitution, Watford. Isaac Success replaces Andre Gray.

Goal!

Goal! Watford 1, Tottenham Hotspur 1. Troy Deeney (Watford) header from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by José Holebas with a cross following a set piece situation.

Booking

Mousa Dembélé (Tottenham Hotspur) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Foul by Mousa Dembélé (Tottenham Hotspur).

Will Hughes (Watford) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Corner, Tottenham Hotspur. Conceded by José Holebas.

Delay over. They are ready to continue.

Delay in match Lucas Moura (Tottenham Hotspur) because of an injury.

Delay in match Christian Kabasele (Watford) because of an injury.

Attempt missed. Andre Gray (Watford) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Will Hughes with a headed pass.

Attempt blocked. José Holebas (Watford) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

goal