Elton drops in to see his rocket men dismantle Spurs
SIR Elton John’s presence is strong at Vicarage Road where walls are adorned with the showbiz images of his days as chairman when Graham Taylor led Watford on an unlikely assault against the elite. As honorary life-president his visits are less frequent these days but he was here yesterday, settling down at the back of the stands to see his team record their first league win against Tottenham since 1987. Javi Gracia’s side did it the hard way having gifted Spurs the lead with an Abdoulaye Doucoure own goal early in the second half.
But they summoned the spirit to launch a thrilling fightback and maintain their 100 per cent start to the season with two goals in seven minutes. Both were headers converted by Troy Deeney and Craig Cathcart from setpieces. Watford eased up to third in the Premier League, locked together with Liverpool and Chelsea on maximum points from four games as the competition goes on hold for the first international break of the season.
It was like those heady days of the ’80s as the home crowd celebrated on the final whistle. Tottenham were left to digest the disappointment of their first defeat of the campaign only six days after the euphoria of a 3-0 win at Manchester United.
Mauricio Pochettino did not attempt to hide from the fact his team will not be competing for the title next spring if they do not have the mental strength to defend set-pieces and see out games such as this in late summer.
‘ We cause people problems,’ beamed Watford captain Deeney, who turned the game with a typically robust and rampaging spell up front. ‘We are big lumps and people don’t like it. Then we limited their chances.
‘We were disappointed in the first half, poor going forward but we showed reliance and the two goals were great. This gives us great confidence. We can make this place a fortress.’
Pochettino, having won at Old Trafford with a back four, reverted to three at the back to tackle Deeney and Andre Gray.
The visitors dominated possession without registering a single effort on target in the opening 45 minutes before lifting their tempo and urgency after the interval and taking the lead with a fair slice of fortune.
Christian Kabasele, who neutralised the threat of Harry Kane to great effect, was punished for two poor defensive headers in as many seconds.
The first presented the ball to Dele Alli just outside the penalty area and the second, nodded wide when goalkeeper Ben Foster dashed from his line in an attempt to claim it, was seized upon by Lucas Moura.
As Foster and his defenders scrambled back into position, Moura cut the ball square where it struck Doucoure on the chest, spun and squirmed inside the post.
It was an untidy goal but Spurs cared little. Moura celebrated as if it was his goal and a dour game, until this point devoid of incident, suddenly broke into an open and breathless contest.
Watford poured forward. Gray lashed one shot wide and Spurs centre half Toby Alderweireld headed against the frame of his own goal as he defended a cross from Deeney who proved too strong in the challenge for Davinson Sanchez, wide on the right.
Here was the passage of play which best encapsulated the twist in the game. Deeney ruffled Tottenham out of their rhythm, dragged the backthree out of their comfort zone, spread panic and lifted the home crowd.
Alderweireld’s relief as the rebound spun to safety was short- lived. Deeney equalised with a glancing header from a free-kick conceded by Mousa Dembele and expertly delivered by Jose Holebas.
‘He is our captain and our spirit,’ said Gracia, when asked about Deeney. ‘ You can see always his example. He tries to help everybody and he has been very important, not only scoring a goal but the work-rate.’
Watford, kicking down the slope with momentum on their side, detected their chance of rare victory against Spurs, and took the lead from another set-piece.
Holebas swung over the corner and Cathcart fought his way ahead of Dembele before guiding a firm header into the top corner.
It was his first goal for the club in two-and-a-half years which have been bedevilled by a serious knee injury. Pochettino sent on striker Fernando Llorente to replace Alderweireld but his dearth of attacking options on the bench were laid bare as he chased an equaliser.
His final change of the game was to switch wing-backs and send on Danny Rose in search of a goal. Kane
came closest, heading over from a cross from Kieran Trippier with time running out but there was no way back for Spurs.
Cue pandemonium at the Vic. Cue the delightful sight of Sir Elton back in his element at the club he loves, saluting Gracia and his ‘Dead Ball Wizards’.