LEAP of FAITH
Scintillating Spurs keep the pressure on Chelsea with another ideal home exhibition
TOTTENHAM 4 Alli (33), Dier (39), Son (44, 54) WATFORD 0
ALL Tottenham can do is keep winning. At the moment, winning is all they do.
It’s eight wins from as many domestic games for Mauricio Pochettino’s side; this ruthless dismantling of Watford their latest triumph.
Tottenham are doing their utmost to keep the title race exciting, applying relentless pressure on leaders Chelsea in hope they will slip up. Long may that continue.
There was no repeat of Wednesday night’s last-gasp heroics at Swansea because this win was as routine as they come.
That is no slight on Watford who, despite the scoreline, took the game to their opponents for large sections of this encounter.
But they simply couldn’t handle this vibrant Tottenham outfit. In this mood, not many could.
And as if their afternoon wasn’t good enough; Harry Kane is back for the run-in, playing the final half hour after missing four weeks through injury.
In the grand scheme of things, this defeat won’t weigh too heavily on Watford’s minds. With 37 points on the board, Premier League status is virtually assured. Whether the club’s trigger-happy owners are as comfortable about their manager’s position is another matter.
Kane was named as a substitute after making a quick recovery from the ankle injury that threatened to end his season, while Watford captain Troy Deeney was surprisingly dropped, although Walter Mazzarri did indicate in the week he felt his talismanic striker was suffering from fatigue.
Watford made a bright start, in contrast Spurs seemed nervy.
Hugo Lloris was forced to deal with Jose Holebas’ free kick in the third minute before Craig Cathcart miscued after another set-piece from the Greek caused mayhem in the home defence. Stefano Okaka’s sheer size and strength was causing Tottenham’s back four concern while Tom Cleverley looks to be finding the kind of form that made him an England regular not too long ago.
This Tottenham team, though, are in overdrive. Watford’s resistance was admirable but they were blown away by a blistering, 12-minute spell at the end of the first half.
In truth, Spurs should have been in front well before Alli’s 33rdminute opener. Vincent Janssen wasted two excellent opportunities — hitting the cross bar from two yards out is certainly a moment he will want to erase from memory.
But, in the end, Janssen’s misfortune didn’t matter a jot.
Pochettino was furious with referee Anthony Taylor for not awarding a free kick after Abdoulaye Doucoure’s blatant foul on Mousa Dembele in midfield — the official instead playing an advantage.
Alli then curled a fabulous shot from 22 yards past Heurelho Gomes. The England international must be applauded for his unstoppable finish. It was exquisite. But Taylor’s call also deserves highlighting.
What followed from Tottenham deserved the standing ovation they received at the end of the opening 45 minutes.
Eric Dier doubled the lead in the 39th minute, smashing home from the edge of the area after Son’s attempted pass took two deflections.
Watford were out on their feet; longing for the half-time whistle. It arrived, but not before Son Heungmin fired Tottenham into a 3-0 lead with a piledriver.
Spurs weren’t done. Nine minutes into the second period they scored a fourth, Son doubling his tally by clinically volleying Kieran Trippier’s back-post cross past Gomes.
And as if things weren’t bad enough for Watford; they spent the final 30 minutes dealing with Kane, who came on for Janssen.
Deeney soon followed Kane onto the pitch and both missed decent opportunities to add to the scoring — Kane hitting the bar with a freekick in injury time.
Son, set up by Kane, missed a glorious chance to complete his hattrick with 10 minutes to play, firing wide with only Gomes to beat.
But the miss was inconsequential. The problem for Spurs is that this victory will also be irrelevant if Chelsea keep winning.