The game’s afoot, Mrs!
break. Booed off at the interval, Tottenham were strol ling impersonators of the dynamic heroes who reached the Champions League final five months ago.
For 45 minutes they were leggy, laboured and lethargic. Heung-min Son’s introduction as half-time sub, after his long-haul trip to secretive Pyongyang for a bruising Korean ‘derby’ on international duty, added some much-needed urgency.
Within four minutes, he had rattled the bar and, not before time, Spurs were finally out of neutral. But for all their possession and corners, they had to wait until four minutes from time to find a way through.
Ben Foster and sub Kiko Femenia got in each other’s way, Alli mopped up and, despite Watford’s claims of a push by Kane in the build-up, the goal stood. Even then, the wrong message on the giant screen added to Watford’s frustration.
Hornets head coach Quique Sanchez Flores said: “More than the result, the best thing was the attitude of my players. They fought like warriors. We did enough to win.” TOTTENHAM WATFORD 2 ............. Shots on Target ........... 2 3 ............. Shots off Target........... 2 7 ............... Blocked Shots ............ 3 11 .....................Corners................... 2 5 ........................Fouls ..................... 9 5 .....................Offsides ................... 1 4 .................Yellow Cards .............. 3 0 ...................Red Cards ................0 86.4 .... Passing Success %.. 65.9 47 .................Duels Won ..............55 46.1 ........ Duel Success % ..... 53.9 10.....................Tackles ..................19 70.0 ........ Tackles Won %...... 63.2 69.6 ......... Possession % ....... 30.4 63.4 ...... Territorial Adv %.... 36.6 684 ............Total Passes ........... 311 41 ...............Total Crosses .............4 182 ............... Lost Balls ............. 134 59 ................ Recoveries..............63 70 ............1st Half Poss %. ........ 30 69.1 ........ 2nd Half Poss %. .... 30.9 ONCE again punters must don the deerstalker and confront The Mystery of the Ferguson Curse.
Exactly what is going to do in Manchester United this week?
Their misfiring frontline, that flappy rearguard, the marshmallow middle?
Professor Plum in the scullery with the Remington Fuzz Away?
No one knows. Even Coleen Rooney (above), the Spray-tan Sherlock, has had to retreat to her ‘mind palace’ in Alderly Edge for a lie down.
Liverpool are 4/6 to break their Old Trafford jinx (4.30pm). That looks suspiciously thin.
History shouts for the DRAW – five in the last 10 meetings – and for
UNDER 2.5 goals (seven from 10).
United are W10 D8 L4 at home against the Big Six in recent PL seasons while Liverpool’s Big Six away stats are W6 D9 L6.
Take the 11/10 (Coral, BetVic) UNDER 2.5 – with Europe looming, any ‘early closing’ vibe is on our side too.
Worldie hunters want ‘no scorer’ at 11/1 (Bet365).