Watford 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur
In the Premier League, a trip to Watford immediately after a conquering of Old Trafford, highlights both the beauty and variety of English football’s top flight.
Here were Spurs, fresh from their superb win at the ‘Theatre of Dreams’ – a result which caught the eye of all SBOBET fans and will prove one of the Premier League 2018 results of the season – in Hertfordshre on a sunny Sunday afternoon.
Yet anyone who thought a trip to Vicarage Road would prove straightforward fare were very mistaken.
Such is the beauty of the Premier League.
Highlights of the game
Indeed, rarely can Watford have faced up to England captain Harry Kane and Tottenham with such momentum.
Who would have thought that Javi Gracia– one of the favourites to be sacked according to Premier League 2018 odds at the start of the campaign – would lead them to three successive wins?
Watford had won their opening three matches of a top-flight season for the first time, their best start to a top-flight campaign – no mean feat when you consider the wonders the late Graham Taylor achieved at the club.
Spurs had also begun a top-flight season with three successive wins for only the fifth time in their history.
Watford showed their intentions from the start and Roberto Pereyra briefly seemed in the clear only to be halted by an offside track.
Pereyra was bidding to become the first Hornets player to score in four consecutive top-flight fixtures at home since John Barnes netted in six in a row from November 1986 to February 1987.
Then a long punt forward by Toby Alderweireld reached the head of Dele Alli who looped the ball just over Ben Foster’s goal before the two players linked up once more with Alli again going close.
It was certainly end-to-end and home skipper Troy Deeney went close to breaking the deadlock after a slick move involving Abdoulaye Doucoure and Daryl Janmaat.
Spurs had the slight edge and were rewarded nine minutes after the restart when a cross caught Foster off his line and Doucoure could only chest the ball into his own net.
When Alderweireld headed against his own post after good work by Deeney, Watford fans may have felt it wasn’t going to be their day.
But in this mood it’s hard to keep the home captain quiet and, from the resulting corner, he duly headed a leveller past Michel Vorm after a Jose Holebas delivery.
Vicarage Road was bubbling with former club chairman Sir Elton John among those in attendance.
The bubble became a bounce soon afterwards as Will Hughes was the latest to produce a first class delivery into the box and Craig Cathcart reached the ball before Mousa Dembele and guided the ball into the top corner.
Seven magic minutes for the hosts and Spurs were stunned.
Their chance for an equaliser came and went as Kane failed to direct Kieran Trippier’s cross on target as the home fans held their breath.
So a famous victory for Watford who had previously not beaten Tottenham in 10 Premier League matches, drawing three and losing seven.
Watford last beat Spurs in the top fight in 1987, a few weeks after Spurs defeated them in the FA Cup semi-final.
The final whistle seemed like 30 years of disappointment had suddenly lifted.
This was a famous day for Watford and one the club will remember for a long time to come.
It’s four out of four for them.
For Spurs, this was a case of ‘after the Lord Mayor’s show and all that’ and proof they will need to show more mettle in the weeks ahead if they are ready to launch a sustained title challenge.
Key statistics
This is the first time in the club’s history that Watford have won their first four matches of the season in the top flight.
It’s also the first time in 30 years they have won four league games at the start of a season.
Spurs had been aiming to win their first three away matches for the second consecutive campaign. They failed to do this in any of their first 25 Premier League seasons.
What’s next?
It’s a big one next for Spurs as they meet fellow title hopefuls Liverpool at Wembley.
Spurs then travel to Italy and the San Siro to meet Inter Milan – throwing up memories of the first of their classic 2010 encounters.
Watford also have another big home contest as they welcome Manchester United to Vicarage Road.
The sides were involved in a six goal thriller last term with an Ashley Young inspired United emerging 4-2 victors.
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