Tottenham 2 : 0 Watford
By Steve Clare. Wembley Stadium
Tottenham strolled to three league points courtesy of goals by Dele Alli and Harry Kane over a surprisingly unthreatening Watford side. The Hornets had just shots on target in normal time and both of them were gifted by lazy Spurs giveaways in their own half. On both occasions French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris bailed the out.
Those apart, the match was played mostly in the Hornets half with only poor finishing denying Spurs a bigger win.
Spurs started the better of the sides and Watford had trouble leaving their own half for the first ten minutes.
Dele Alli opened the scoring after Orestis Karnezis spilled an innocent looking cross and the ball was reworked across the Watford area by Christian Eriksen, at whose feet the ball had landed. In their lone first half threat, Andre Gray produced a good save from Hugo Lloris but the Watford forward should have done better and forced a great save with such a super opportunity.
Craig Cathcart had to be sharp to withstand the wily Heung-Min Song but generally Spurs had every reason to remain patient. However the threat to their goal when visible was potent. Lloris bailed Spurs out again when he parried a great effort from Richarlison just before half time.
It was Harry Kane who put the game beyond Watford’s reach three minutes after the players returned from their half time oranges. Having fallen over trying to convert a first grounded cross, he was far more poised in neatly side footing home Kieran Trippier’s second amid enormous gaps in the Watford area.
It could have been worse for the Hertfordshire side. Jan Vertonghen rose above everyone but his header cannoned off the post in 68 minutes. At the other end, Richarlison was even more wasteful volleying a gilt edged opportunity not only over the goal but probably over any second goal that had been built on top of the first one.
Kane was marginally offside when he converted in the 74th and the goal was rightly chalked off but the game was well beyond the Hornets by then although Gray called on Lloris to make a final save in the dying minutes
Tottenham have opened a five point gap on fifth place Chelsea. With West Brom away and Newcastle at home, they must feel very confident of at least fourth place, and maybe more with Liverpool just one ahead now.
Watford also have Newcastle at home and Manchester United away and may be relying on points being dropped beneath them although there just be too many teams needing to do that to really endanger them. Most of the teams below the are away from home next and thereafter, the air in Hertfordshire might just be a little more breathable. To add tho that, one of the home sides Brighton face Manchester United.
38 points might be enough after all.
