Tottenham Hotspur 1-Zero Watford: Son Heung-min winner maintains Spurs’ 100% begin

Son Heung-min has scored six goals in 10 Premier League games against Watford

Son Heung-min marked his 200th Premier League appearance with the winning goal when Tottenham kept their 100% start of the season against Watford.

The result means Spurs will lead the table before the international break in September, with Watford in 12th place.

Nuno Espirito Santo is also only the second Tottenham boss to win his first three league games as head of the club, with Arthur Rowe being the last man to accomplish this feat in 1949.

But they had to work hard for their win, from a savvy Watford side who unfortunately conceded when Son’s free kick fooled goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann and found the bottom right corner.

While Harry Kane remained unusually calm on his first league start this season for Tottenham, Steven Bergwijn, Eric Dier and Dele Alli had every chance for the hosts.

However, Xisco Munoz’s team offered a lot of risk of attack.

Juraj Kucka failed to capture good scoring opportunities twice and Emmanuel Dennis also gave Spurs some uncomfortable moments.

Solid spurs ride a positive wave

There was a sense of buoyancy when Spurs showed up before kick-off, with Kane in particular receiving a rousing reception from home fans.

And that positivity still sloshed around the stadium full-time, with a 300th Premier League home win under his belt.

While newly promoted Watford are likely to have different goals for the remainder of the season, Spurs’ win and performance are well poised for a challenging streak of games when the Premier League resumes.

Next up for Nunos are London derbies against Crystal Palace, Chelsea and Arsenal.

And aside from the relief of keeping Kane – their biggest scoring threat – they also seem to have gotten more solid defensively since Nuno arrived in the summer.

Spurs have yet to concede a league goal this season and the way Dier and Davinson Sanchez both pounced on efforts that would appear to end up on the net highlighted a new take on defense.

Watford show their worth

Watford looked distressed after taking the break after keeping the Spurs at bay for much of the first third, and even without players like Troy Deeney they showed a lot of aggressiveness.

Nigerian striker Dennis was particularly lively from the left, presenting a number of problems for his marker Japhet Tanganga and deckhand Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.

Ismaila Sarr’s pace was also an outlet on the other side – the Senegalese international had two chances to become the top scorer early on.

The Hornets were also unlucky that Kucka’s shot on goal was blocked by Spurs defender Dier during a hectic start.

Even after taking the lead, the Spurs always seemed to find a way back into the game, but Xisco will be aware that despite all their good play, they only managed two shots on target.

Player of the game

Son of Heung-MinSon of Heung-Min

Constellations

Tottenham

formation 4-2-3-1

1Lloris

25thhands6thD Sanchezfifteenanimal3Reguilón

5Højbjerg29skip

7thSon of Heung-Min20ththere23Bergwijn

10Kane

• 1Lloris
• 25thhands
• 6thD Sanchez
• fifteenanimal
• 3Reguilón
• 5Højbjerg
• 29skipBooked at 85 minutes
• 7thSon of Heung-MinReplaced byGilat 88 ‘protocol
• 20ththereBooked at 61 minutes
• 23BergwijnReplaced byLucas Mouraat 68 ‘protocol
• 10KaneBooked at 45 minutes

substitute

• 2Doherty
• 4thRomero
• 8thWinks
• 11Gil
• 18thThe Celso
• 19thR Sessegnon
• 22ndGollini
• 27Lucas Moura
• 33Davies

Watford

formation 4-1-4-1

26thBachmann

fifteenCatcart5Troost-Ekong31Sierralta11automobile

4thEtebo

23Sarra19thSissoko33Kucka25thDennis

7thking

• 26thBachmann
• fifteenCatcartReplaced byNgakiaat 51 ‘protocol
• 5Troost-Ekong
• 31Sierralta
• 11automobile
• 4thEteboBooked at 29 minutes
• 23Sarra
• 19thSissokoBooked at 54 minutesReplaced byCleverleyat 71 ‘protocol
• 33Kucka
• 25thDennisBooked at 90 minutes
• 7thkingReplaced byHernandez Suarezat 65 ‘protocol

substitute

• 2Ngakia
• 3rose
• 6thLouza
• 8thCleverley
• 12thScheme
• 17thFletcher
• 27Kabasele
• 29Hernandez Suarez
• 35Elliot

Referee: André Marriner

Number of participants: 57,672

Live text

1. Game ends, Tottenham Hotspur 1, Watford 0.

2. The second half ends, Tottenham Hotspur 1, Watford 0.

3. Yellow card for a bad foul. Emmanuel Dennis (Watford) is shown the yellow card.

4. Lucas Moura (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

5. Foul by Emmanuel Dennis (Watford).

6. Corner, Tottenham Hotspur. Admitted by Cucho Hernández.

7. Corner, Tottenham Hotspur. Granted by Francisco Sierralta.

8. Offside, Watford. Peter Etebo tries a through ball, but Ismaila Sarr is caught offside.

9. Hugo Lloris (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

10. Foul by Tom Cleverley (Watford).

11. Offside, Tottenham Hotspur. Lucas Moura tries a through ball, but Harry Kane is caught offside.

12. Substitution (in), Tottenham Hotspur. Bryan Gil replaces Son Heung-Min.

13. Davinson Sánchez (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

14. Foul by Emmanuel Dennis (Watford).

15. Oliver Skipp (Tottenham Hotspur) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

16. Foul by Oliver Skipp (Tottenham Hotspur).

17. Ismaila Sarr (Watford) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

18. Attempt saved. Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur) right footed shot from the center of the box is saved in the center of the box. Supported by Japhet Tanganga.

19. Corner, Tottenham Hotspur. Granted by William Troost-Ekong.

20. Davinson Sánchez (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

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