Watford ace Troy Deeney slams behaviour of Tottenham players in narrow win

Ultimately, though, they grabbed an 89th-minute victor as substitute Heung-Min Son backheeled the ball past Watford goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes from Kieran Trippier’s cross. “We can now say it was an accident against Newcastle – we’re very pleased with the reaction”, Pochettino said.

Pochettino may decide to make one change to the back four that kept a clean sheet during Saturday’s 3-0 victory over Norwich City with Danny Rose coming back in at left-back for Ben Davies.

“It is hard after two years I didn’t play so I tried to put all my energy on the pitch and to give everything for my teammates”.

Spurs seemed comfortable having taken the lead but they were pegged back five minutes before the interval and it was a familiar name on the scoresheet.

That goal energized the home side, and as Spurs shifted to what was effectively a back three, Troy Deeney and Odion Ighalo started to carve in.

Mauricio Pochettino urged his Tottenham stars to keep their feet on the ground as they head into 2016 firmly in the Premier League title race.

Yet Dier was not able to deal with Ighalo in the 41st minute, as the Watford striker turned his man inside the area before stabbing past Hugo Lloris from close range for his 14th goal of an exceptional campaign.

Tottenham dominated the opening exchanges and never looked in any trouble, with Eric Dier, who played as a centre half this time, comfortably dealing with Watford’s long ball game.

When it comes to effectively finding space for himself inside the final third, making countless off-ball runs that cause untold havoc with opposing defenders, and scoring enough goals to make everyone sit up and take note, Odion Ighalo really hasn’t disappointed much this season.

Watford had seen their four-game winning streak halted by Chelsea 48 hours prior, but hardly settled for a share of the points at Stamford Bridge: while Oscar fluffed a late penalty the Hornets were hardly second best in an end to end encounter. “It took us a while to get going but (we) were in control of the game and did very well”.

Ake caught Lamela studs first and high on the leg as he attempted to get to a bouncing ball. “It is football”, said Watford boss Quique Sanchez Flores.

“A lot of teams play a 4-4-2 like Watford, but they may use a different system against us”. They showed a great desire to play for the fans against a tough team.