A HEADACHE FOR POCH
In front of Elton, Spurs feel pain of scars that won’t heal...
THE Elton John Stand was rocking at the final whistle. And there, fittingly, was the great man himself as Watford’s most famous fan (below) clapped and cheered at the end of an incredible day at Vicarage Road. It was, it has to be said, very ‘Spursy’ the way Mauricio Pochettino’s men threw away the lead and allowed themselves to be bullied by Watford and their talisman Troy Deeney. It was last season that Deeney accused Arsenal of lacking cojones but this time it was Totten- ham who crumbled as they lost to Watford in the league for the first time in 31 years.
Hornets were terrific and fully deserved the three points – the first time they have won their first four Premier League games.
They had more fight and desire than Tottenham – no wonder Pochettino looked so angry after the final whistle.
Star striker Harry Kane, who played as though he had lead in his boots, missed a sitter with five minutes left, heading over from close range.
Kane, who has barely had a rest since the World Cup, struggled throughout and if ever there was a game that exposed the lack of summer signings then it was this one.
After a flying start with three straight wins, Tottenham needed something different to freshen it up from the bench but boss Pochettino had nothing in reserve.
The Argentinian was fuming afterwards, struggling to contain his anger with his players for ignoring his pre-match warnings on the back of victory at Manchester United that they must stay focused.
Well, they lost their way at Vicarage Road and took their eye off the ball in a bizarre game which was, as Pochettino complained, like a pre-season friendly in the first half and a riproarer after the restart.
You assumed after Tottenham went ahead in the 53rd minute that Pochettino’s men would go on to win the game.
A chip from Dele Alli (right) into the box created uncertainty, Watford defender Christian
Kabasele made it worse with a weak header, and Lucas Moura’s cross deflected in off Abdoulaye Doucoure for an own goal.
But Watford, who finished 14th last term, look a different team now under Javi Gracia. They are tougher, more determined, and no longer appear to have a soft centre.
As Hornets turned up the heat, Deeney was right up for the fight and it looked like Tottenham’s defence were intimidated by the home side’s physical power and strength.
Deeney scared Tottenham, outmuscling Davinson Sanchez on the right and putting over a cross which Toby Alderweireld headed against his own post. Then Watford drew level after 69 minutes.
Mousa Dembele was booked for a foul on Will Hughes and Watford’s dead-ball specialist Jose Holebas whipped in a brilliant free-kick. Deeney muscled himself some space, lost Jan Vertonghen, and then glanced home into the bottom corner.
Deeney is only the fourth Watford player (after Tommy Barnett, Ross Jenkins and Luther Blissett) to reach 100 goals and has firmly established himself as a club legend.
Vicarage Road came alive after his goal and Watford were not finished there. Tottenham looked nervous in defence and the Hornets, smelling blood, went ahead after 76 minutes.
Holebas put over another terrific setpiece and Craig Cathcart lost Dembele in the box to head home his first goal since January 2016.
Tottenham threw on Fernando Llorente, Danny Rose and Harry Winks but none of them can be considered game-changers.
Watford, who now sit joint-top of the Premier League with Liverpool and Chelsea, two points ahead of champions Manchester City, proved they have got plenty of heart but Tottenham look as if they do not have enough strength in depth to last the distance in a title race.