28th December, 2015
Son Heung-Min scored a dramatic late winner as Tottenham moved up to third in the Premier League with victory over 10-man Watford.
Erik Lamela put the visitors in front when he stroked in a shot after Dele Alli dispossessed Craig Cathcart.
Odion Ighalo equalised when his determination helped him beat Eric Dier and poke home.
Nathan Ake was sent off for a challenge on Lamela before Son scored with a deft flick from Kieran Trippier’s cross.
Late drama at Vicarage Road
Tottenham had struggled to make the most of their numerical advantage following Ake’s dismissal on 63 minutes.
Indeed Watford looked the more likely goalscorers in the closing stages as they earned a succession of corners and could have taken the lead themselves.
Ben Watson’s corner almost crept in before keeper Hugo Lloris fended the ball away, with goalline technology showing the ball was only inches away from going in.
Moments later, Spurs scored the winner. Trippier’s crosses from the right had caused the hosts problems throughout and it was his delivery that led to Son’s clincher.
There was a suggestion of offside in the build-up to the goal, but referee Anthony Taylor allowed it to stand.
Should Ake have been sent off?
Ake caught Lamela studs first and high on the leg as he attempted to get to a bouncing ball.
Taylor took his time before brandishing his red card to the bemusement of the Watford left-back and the home dugout.
“My view was amazing but I don’t like to talk about the referees. It is football,” said Watford boss Quique Sanchez Flores.
“It is difficult,” said Spurs counterpart Mauricio Pochettino. “From my point of view, it was an orange or red but more than yellow.”
Ighalo v Kane
Apart from a meeting between two of the league’s form teams, the match at Vicarage Road also saw strikers Ighalo and Harry Kane on the same pitch.
Ighalo showed strength and determination in scoring a goal which took his tally to 14 for the season and 30 in 2015.
Chances were at a premium for Kane and the closest he came was when a brave near-post header went wide.
He was more of a presence, though, and was involved in more of the build-up play and also helped out defensively.