Tag Archives: Tottenham Hotspur

1st January 2022- Premier League, Watford 0 Tottenham Hotspur 1

Attendance: 20,391

BBC Sport: Davinson Sanchez scored a 96th-minute winner as Tottenham continued their push for a Premier League top-four place with a last-gasp victory over struggling Watford at Vicarage Road.

Sky Sports: Watford had conceded 15 goals during a five-match losing streak, but Kane and company were frustrated by an inspired Daniel Bachmann before Sanchez’s very late intervention.

BHappy: It wasn’t to be. And you can focus on Kucka’s ill-judged foul as Spurs once again tried to find a way into our penalty area, or Sierralta being outjumped by Sánchez, or Bachmann flying out and getting nowhere near the cross. There was always a chance of this happening… tickets, raffles. The strategy of ceding possession and blocking space relied on absolute concentration and a bit of luck and in the 96th minute, after an interlude for a fan to receive treatment, both failed us. The defeat also owes a lot, in fairness, to the relentless focus of the visitors – something not always associated with Spurs teams in the past. Very few histrionics here, very few tantrums as the frustration at lack of progress must have built, not much in the way of testing the referee after he’d set a tone in the first half. Just a concentrated belief in what they were doing, something that was true of both sides.

Fran’s Watford Blog: It was a heart-breaking end to the game. Watford had done really well to contain the Spurs attack and had had a couple of decent chances themselves. The second half had been much more positive from the Hornets. Joao Pedro had been a menace and, had he been allowed to continue his run, may well have grabbed a goal. The man of the match award was given to Kucka, but I thought the midfield three all did well with a decent showing from Louza and the sort of impressive performance that we have come to expect from Sissoko.

29th August 2021- Premier League, Tottenham Hotspur 1 Watford 0

Attendance: 57,672

BBC Sport: Juraj Kucka twice failed to capitalise on good opportunities to score and Emmanuel Dennis also gave Spurs some uncomfortable moments.

Sky Sports: Watford reacted well after the break, creating two big chances. First, Kucka lashed over the bar in acres of space from Sarr’s centre, before Josh King got in Sarr’s way eight yards out as he looked to turn home from a Moussa Sissoko cut back.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58295881

BHappy: There are a fair few “free hits” in the Premier League, and there’s a frustration here in that having been within a slug of a mugging we couldn’t find that goal, deserved or otherwise, or better still kept that free kick out. Nonetheless. We’re at a stage where the team is virtually brand new; to look so convincing so quickly, albeit without points today, is no bad thing. We need to hit the ground running with an attractive looking run of games coming after the international break, but on this evidence you’d back us to add to our tally.

From the Rookery End: After a respectable 1-0 lose away at Tottenham Hotspur, Jon, Mike and Jason talk through a far more postive performance than 7 days ago in Brighton. With changes across the team the boys reflect on the strengths and weaknesses but find themselves in a better place than last weekend.

5th September 2020- Friendly, Watford 2 Tottenham Hotspur 1

With Championship football kicking off at Vicarage Road on Friday night and the Hornets looking to mount a promotion push, Vladimir Ivić’s side showed they still have some Premier League quality about them with a convincing win against Tottenham Hotspur at Vicarage Road.

Match-Report_-Watford-2-1-Tottenham-Hotspur-Watford-FC Download

Wilmot: “We Needed A Test Like That”

Spurs Website: Heung-Min Son’s late penalty wasn’t enough as we suffered a 2-1 defeat at Watford in our final match of pre-season on Saturday afternoon.

No, not a full-strength Spurs, yes, a pre-season friendly and no, I’ve not spent too long dwelling on the detail. It’s a pre-season friendly after all, and if you cared you probably watched it yourself. But we beat Spurs, with a thing that has fun bits and gnarly bits and sparkly bits but is fundamentally a thing that isn’t fully formed yet.

18th January 2020- Premier League, Watford 0 Tottenham Hotspur 0

Referee:
Michael Oliver
Attendance:
21,366

Match Report: Watford 0-0 Tottenham Hotspur

Watford continue push for survival with point against Tottenham Hotspur

Watford and Tottenham Hotspur share spoils in Premier League draw

Nigel Pearson says Watford deserve ‘incredible credit’ for performance in Tottenham Hotspur draw

Watford players rated following Tottenham Hotspur stalemate

Craig Dawson praised Watford’s team spirit after Tottenham Hotspur point

Ignacio Pussetto’s goal-line clearance denied Tottenham a last-minute winner at Watford by just 10.04mm in a goalless draw at Vicarage Road.

Troy Deeney saw his spot-kick saved, but the Hornets extended their unbeaten run in the Premier League to seven matches.

The truth was that Spurs started well, without causing Ben Foster any real moments of concern. By the half- hour, however, Watford were on top and during the first 15 minutes of the second half should have taken the lead. Their penalty came in the 69th minute, the result of incessant pressure that culminated in Jan Vertonghen desperately blocking a shot from Gerard Deulofeu with his arm. Deeney stepped up to take it, but his shot was soft and too close to Paolo Gazzaniga’s right hand. It was Deeney’s third miss in his past six Premier League penalties.

In the minutes added on at the end of the game, the Watford substitute Ignacio Pussetto, an Argentine winger making his debut for the club, cleared one off the line that Erik Lamela had managed to steer past Ben Foster. The goal decision system later revealed that it was the breadth of an orange peel away from being the winner, which meant that Watford could also consider one point a good return.

It’s not a great penalty, very savable if the keeper goes the right way… harsh to blame Troy really who more than pulls his weight throughout, but I’d always prefer he missed by absolutely spanking it if he’s going to miss at all. Call me childish, but there’s great satisfaction in seeing the ball hit as hard as he did at Wembley.

From behind the goal it didn’t look to have crossed the line and the referee waved his ‘watch’ at the protesting Spurs players to indicate that they had not scored. That was the last action of the game. It had been a decent goalless draw. The visitors had started the game strongly with the Hornets sitting very deep, but Watford came back into it and had a couple of decent chances. Both defences played pretty well, and the forwards from both sides were very wasteful.

No goals? No problem! Jon, Jas, Jordi and Mike run the rule over another decent Watford performance as the recovery under Nigel Pearson continues. As well as looking forward to what could be one of the busiest Watford weeks of football, the boys try and choose their most improved Pearson era performer. It’s another From the Rookery End podcast!

The Guardian’s football cartoonist David Squires featured the game in his strip printed the following week.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/ng-interactive/2020/jan/21/david-squires-on-the-resurrection-of-nigel-pearson-at-watford

19th October 2019- Premier League, Tottenham Hotspur 1 Watford 1

Referee: Chris Kavanagh
Attendance: 58,754

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Match Report: Tottenham Hotspur 1-1 Watford

Watford draw with Tottenham Hotspur after their lead is cut out by controversial goal

VAR controversy as Watford denied win at Tottenham Hotspur

Watford boss Quique Sanchez Flores reflects on VAR involvement after Tottenham Hotspur draw

Apology issued to Watford and Tottenham Hotspur fans following ‘no goal’ graphic

Watford players rated after their draw with Tottenham Hotspur

Craig Dawson frustrated after VAR decision meant Watford had to settle for draw at Tottenham Hotspur

Watford’s Danny Welbeck substituted at Tottenham Hotspur due to ankle problem

Dele Alli rescued a late point for Tottenham to deny visitors Watford a first Premier League win of the season amid video assistant referee (VAR) confusion.

Alli’s leveller (86) – after Abdoulaye Doucoure (6) had given Watford the lead – was reviewed by VAR for a potential handball and referee Chris Kavanagh signalled for a goal but the big-screen message, which is controlled by Stockley Park, stated that the goal had been ruled out. After some confusion, the goal was eventually given.

For Watford this was one of those so-near-yet-so-far days, but the commitment from his players gave heart to Quique Sánchez Flores. The league’s bottom side were far from the rabble of early season here and, had they been more decisive in one of several counterattacking opportunities, they might yet have secured their first win of the season.

For much of the game Watford’s midfield was everything Tottenham’s was not. Tom Cleverley was calm and organised, Nathaniel Chalobah clever and ambitious, while Doucoure was quite superb. Strong in the tackle, athletic in possession, and with a clever final pass, he ran the game.

And here’s the VAR bit. Two big calls. A penalty shout for Deulofeu in the first half, not given. Alli’s goal, not denied despite a handball in the build-up and a shove on Christian Kabasele. No view of either at the time, both at the far end… Deulofeu’s penalty looks nailed on, Alli’s “handball” at least plausibly interpretable as shoulder rather than arm. We didn’t get either decision, it was ever thus away at a big club, these things matter more because we’re so desperate for the points. On balance wringing our hands too much about the equaliser is misguided; Ben Foster should have cleaned it out, Kiko could have been more decisive, and however inspiring our performance and well-judged the strategy if you spend most of the game defending your penalty area you increase the opportunity for such a decision to go against you.

If we continue to play as well as we did on Saturday, we won’t be in the relegation zone for long. This was the first time that we have seen a convincing performance from the whole team. I hope that we bring that into the Bournemouth game and have Vicarage Road bouncing again.

A much improved performance from Watford, while problems with VAR continue to leave Hornets’ fans confused and critical. This week Mike and Colin join Jon to discuss events at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, where things could, and probably should, have been so much better. Find out if the boys think it’s a point gained or two lost and hear their answers to your questions.

30th January 2019- Premier League, Tottenham Hotspur 2 Watford 1

Referee:
Graham Scott
Attendance:
29,164

Highlights: Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Watford

Gallery: Tottenham Hotspur v Watford

Cathcart: “We’re Disappointed, But It’s A Good Sign”

Gracia: “A Big Chance Missed”

Match Report: Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Watford

Watford lose 2-1 to Tottenham Hotspur after taking a first half lead

Watford see advantage slip as Tottenham Hotspur claim late win

Tottenham Hotspur vs Watford: Javi Gracia rues not adding to points tally

Watford’s players rated from their 2-1 defeat at Wembley against Tottenham Hotspur

Ben Foster thinks Watford deserved more after disappointing defeat at Tottenham Hotspur

Javi Gracia has said Watford striker Isaac Success should ‘behave better’ after ball boy incident at Wembley

Such is the media obsession with the ‘big six’ that the following four reports barely contain a mention of us.

Watford were a little more than 10 minutes away from their first league double over Tottenham.

Late goals from Heung-Min Son and Fernando Llorente rescued a tough week for Tottenham with a 2-1 comeback win over Watford. Watford took advantage of a Spurs side looking jaded after exiting both domestic cup competitions in the space of four days when Craig Cathcart bundled home from a corner (37).

Watford substitute Isaac Success missed a good chance to secure all three points against the run of play, but Tottenham turned the game on its head in the final 10 minutes.

As Javi Gracia said, his side “missed a very good chance to get points against a very good team” and while the visitors were second best in terms of possession and territory, they arguably deserved a draw given the togetherness they showed throughout. Instead they remain ninth having lost for the first time in 2019.

https://audioboom.com/posts/7159655-preseason-in-arizona-9-34

26th September 2018- League Cup Third Round, Tottenham Hotspur 2 Watford 2 (Tottenham won 4-2 on penalties) at Stadium MK

The game was played at Stadium MK as Tottenham’s new stadium was still not ready to be used and their temporary home, Wembley Stadium, was unavailable as it had hosted an Anthony Joshua title fight the previous weekend.

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Referee: Lee Mason Attendance: 23,650

clips of Jon Marks BBC 3CR commentary Goals:1 2

Watford Observer

RELIVE – Tottenham Hotspur vs Watford: Dele Alli strikes decisive spot kick as Hornets exit Carabao Cup on penalties

Watford knocked out of Carabao Cup by Tottenham Hotspur on penalties after 2-2 draw

Watford player ratings: Isaac Success the standout performer in Carabao Cup loss to Tottenham Hotspur

PICTURES: Watford knocked out of Carabao Cup by Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham Hotspur vs Watford: Isaac Success takes pride in Carabao Cup defeat

Watford: Javi Gracia delighted with squad players despite Tottenham Hotspur loss

Isaac Success put Watford ahead, goals from Alli and Erik Lamela made it 2-1 before Etienne Capoue equalised.

After Capoue and Domingos Quina missed spot-kicks in the shoot-out, Alli stepped up to send Spurs through to the fourth round.

For this odd occasion at Milton Keynes, Mauricio Pochettino made the local boy his captain. And within five minutes Alli was belting the length of the pitch to earn a corner. It was a run which drew nostalgic applause from the thousand or so MK Dons fans who, to add further to the oddness of the occasion, were stationed above the Watford contingent.

Javi Gracia had made even more changes, with Craig Cathcart the only survivor from the lineup that has started all six of Watford’s league games this season. But Watford, too, were eager to advance and Gracia introduced Christian Kabasele from the bench in the 77th minute to help protect their lead. Three minutes later the Belgian was on his way back off again, shown a red card after his challenge led to Alli tumbling to the floor. Alli got up to score from the penalty spot. Gracia was dismayed by the sending off – “I cannot understand this decision,” he said, before indicating that Watford would appeal against it.

If you want my personal opinion on playing at a neutral venue, I thought it was an absolute farce and makes a mockery of the whole competition. If you are entering a cup competition and you know full well you will not be able to fulfill a fixture, you either agree to reverse it and play away from home, or you don’t enter the competition at all.

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2nd September 2018- Premier League, Watford 2 Tottenham Hotspur 1

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Screen Shot 2018-09-03 at 12.42.09 Referee:Andre Marriner Attendance:20,141

clips of Jon Marks BBC 3CR commentary Goals: 1 2

Watford Observer

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Watford beat Tottenham Hotspur to continue perfect start to season

Mauricio Pochettino labels Tottenham Hotspur’s defeat ‘so painful’

Javi Gracia says Watford will enjoy win against Tottenham Hotspur the same as their other victories

Jose Holebas: Watford’s character key to downing Tottenham Hotspur

Watford player ratings: Troy Deeney and Craig Cathcart on song as Hornets down Tottenham Hotspur

Watford: Selection of images from a memorable victory against Tottenham Hotspur

Watford: Jose Holebas believes club are ready to build settled Premier League side

Troy Deeney the providing the spirit behind Watford’s fine start, says Javi Gracia

Watford came from behind to maintain their 100 per cent start to the season as two quickfire headers gave them a 2-1 win over Tottenham at Vicarage Road on Super Sunday.

Tottenham had scored a fortuitous opener as Watford midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure bundled into his own net but, after winning their first four league games for the first time in 30 years, it is the Hornets who join Liverpool and Chelsea on maximum points at the top of the table.

To the delight of Elton John, who sat in the posh seats, and every one of their other supporters, it was Watford rather than Tottenham who maintained their 100% start to the season. It is four wins out of four for them in the league and, for the first time since 1987, Watford triumphed in this fixture.

Next up for Watford, after the international break, are Manchester United and a group of players with their own vulnerabilities. The likes of Deeney, unapologetically destructive on days like these, will target United’s pressure points with snarl and venom. “He is the captain, the spirit” said Gracia. “You can see always his example. He has not changed, he wants to win.”

Having had to man the barricades at the end of the first half, Spurs’ goal came from nothing eight minutes into the second. A loose clearance, an aimless low cutback from Moura and a freak deflection off Doucouré that wrong-footed Foster. The sort of goal that would normally be a hammer blow. “You don’t give away goals like that against teams like this. It can’t be our day. They haven’t had to do much to earn that…”.

There was a certain inevitability to the goal and we settled back to witness the defeat that was sure to come. But the players were of a completely different mindset and the goal seemed to galvanise them into action. First Gray hit a powerful shot that was just over the bar. Then Deeney hit a shot across goal that took a deflection off Vertonghen before coming back off the inside of the post. So close! Spurs were rattled and Dembélé went into the referee’s book for pulling down Hughes. Holebas took the resulting free kick which was met by Deeney who powered the header home to level the game and send the Rookery wild.

I had been saying “take a point” in my mind throughout the week leading up to this game. Suddenly though, it felt as though all three points were a very real possibility. As a corner came in, again a pinpoint delivery from Holebas, Craig Cathcart nodded it into the Rookery End net and Vicarage Road erupted. I had never seen us beat Spurs in my whole life. In fact, the last time we beat Spurs I would have only been 1 year old, back in 1994.

Yeah… we beat Spurs, for the first time in over 30 years. After a fantastic win, Jon, Jason and Colin discuss a comeback win for the Hornets which will be remembered by us and the rest of the League for a good while.

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30th April 2018- Premier League, Tottenham Hotspur 2 Watford 0

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Watford Observer

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Adrian Mariappa: Watford must take positives from attacking display against Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham Hotspur vs Watford ratings: Will Hughes on song but Orestis Karnezis struggles at Wembley

Adrian Mariappa: Watford defender proud to skipper Hornets at Wembley

Harry Kane scored in Tottenham’s routine 2-0 win over Watford to reopen their five-point cushion over Chelsea in the race for a top-four finish.

Spurs capitalised on an error from Hornets goalkeeper Orestis Karnezis as Christian Eriksen set up Alli and the England midfielder scored from 12 yards out. Kane doubled Spurs’ lead early in the second half from Kieran Trippier’s pull-back and Jan Vertonghen later headed against the post.

Kieran Trippier’s cross should have been easy for Karnezis, but the Watford keeper spilt the ball, Christian Eriksen toed it into the path of Alli, who produced a composed finish.

The game was played in a subdued atmosphere, with plenty of empty seats dotted around the ground, and Spurs were often there for the taking. There was a slight air of edginess about their play and Pochettino frowned at his team’s tentativeness in the final third, especially when Kane spurned a decent shooting opportunity with an awkward piece of control in the 12th minute. Watford sensed an opportunity to exploit that unease, showing inventiveness on the break, and Spurs’ defenders were relieved to see Hugo Lloris deny Andre Gray in the 25th minute.

It’s always a special occasion to watch Watford play at Wembley. It’s just nice to see us lose to someone other than Crystal Palace there for a change.

https://audioboom.com/posts/6834967-wembley-wasteland-8-45

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2nd December 2017- Premier League, Watford 1 Tottenham Hotspur 1

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clips of Jon Marks BBC 3CR commentary Goals:

Watford Observer

Watford vs Tottenham Hotspur live: Hornets held to draw as Davinson Sanchez sees red for Spurs

Watford unable to make most of extra man against Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham Hotspur yet to decide whether to appeal Davinson Sanchez sending off at Watford

Marco Silva has no doubts about big incidents from Watford’s draw with Tottenham Hotspur

Watford vs Tottenham Hotspur ratings: Abdoulaye Doucoure and Tom Cleverley on form in Premier League draw

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino says his side will learn from “suffering things against us” after Spurs drew against Watford.

Tottenham were forced to settle for a point at Watford after coming from behind and then having Davinson Sanchez sent off in a feisty 1-1 draw at Vicarage Road.

What conclusions should be drawn from this bracing encounter between two teams determined to give no quarter? Was it two points dropped for Spurs as their run without a Premier League win extended to four matches? Or was it a point earned, after being forced to play most of the second half with 10 men? For Watford, should they have taken greater advantage of the dismissal of Davinson Sánchez in the 52nd minute? Or had they proven they can go toe to toe with the big teams and compete?

It is rare that a referee gets booed off the pitch by both sets of fans, but Martin Atkinson managed to upset the supporters of Watford and Tottenham at the end of a hard-fought draw in which the visitors had to play almost 40 minutes with ten men.

Football isn’t supposed to be played in the summer, that’s the maxim. It’s a winter sport. The mental image of condensation on your breath, scarves and hats, cups of bovril, stamping your feet to keep warm is a romantic one, the clichéd “can they hack it on a December midweek in Stoke” a derisive put-down to your fancy dan foreign types. They can’t, is the implication. Not being British obviously makes them inferior because they don’t make them tough wherever it is that they’re from whereas we’ve done it. We’ve been to Stoke midweek, braved the elements and the parking and the food, and we’re tougher for it. It’s still bollocks though. Cold isn’t fun, cold and wet less so. This is, admittedly, an intro that could have been more aptly stored up until Stoke away midweek in January… but the elements were an overriding consideration today as the clammy damp chill clung to your cheeks and any attempt to make a noise was muffled by suffocating condensation. It was Spurs at home, a vitriolic bad-tempered affair typical of this fixture, and yet the atmosphere had none of Tuesday’s bravado. Damp, cold. Slightly sullen.

While we really should have had a last minute penalty, a draw was a fair result and I would certainly have taken a point before the game. To be disappointed with a draw against Tottenham shows how far we have come and it was a very entertaining game. We have played all of the top six now and have only been outplayed by Manchester City. It will be a tough trip to Burnley next week, but the Premier League is finally a fun place for Watford fans and that is something to relish.

A cross from Richarlison from the left smacked the outstretched arm of Dier in the penalty area. 18,000 Watford fans cried “HANDBALL!” in unison along with the 11 players on the pitch. It was blatant and clear for all to see, unfortunately the only people who didn’t spot the offence were the officials.

Watford 1-1 Spurs Watford were held by a ten man Spurs on Saturday, in a surprisingly enjoyable game. Jon, Mike and Colin talk through the performance, the squad choices, the worst Watford home game ever and we look ahead to 8 games in 32 days.

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