Watford 1 Tottenham 2 player ratings: Who impressed for Spurs as title challenge gathers pace?

A look at the individual performances at Vicarage Road

Monday 28 December 2015 18:42 GMT

Tottenham provisionally moved up to third in the Premier League after a last-minute goal earned them a 2-1 win at Watford.

The result moved Tottenham above Manchester City (who play tomorrow) after Sol Heung-min scored the late winner at Watford who were down 10 men for nearly 30 minutes after Nathan Ake was sent off. Watford provisionally remain seventh.

Erik Lamela scored the first goal for Tottenham when he ran forward before side-footing a shot past goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes.

Odion Ighalo pulled Watford level with his 14th goal of the season near half-time. He played the ball between Eric Dier's legs and poked it past Hugo Lloris.

Watford went down to 10 men when defender Ake was ejected after a high challenge on Lamela before Son flicked home Kieran Trippier's cross.

So who impressed for Spurs? And who didn't come up to Watford's recently impressive levels? Check out our ratings below...

Watford 1 Tottenham 2 player ratings

Show all 8

1/8Watford 1 Tottenham 2 player ratings

Watford 1 Tottenham 2 player ratings

WATFORD

Gomes: 5
Despite his eight clean sheets this season there still remains a sense of unreliability from Gomes, who was caught out by one corner when Spurs should have scored. He could do nothing about the goal and in truth had little else to do before smartly claiming the ball off Son’s feet. His unreliability was proven as he was found well off his line for Son’s winner.

Anya: 6
His defensive deficiencies were rarely exposed as Tottenham steadfastly refused to pile numbers down Watford’s weaker right hand side. In all it was a quiet game for the Scottish international, who was rarely found wanting.

Cathcart: 6
Criminally careless in midfield early on, giving the ball away as Tottenham went on to score their opener. It was the only mistake he made, but it was a disappointing one as he did not give Spurs another good chance.

Watford 1 Tottenham 2 player ratings

WATFORD

Britos: 5
The disciplinary problems that blighted Britos at Napoli seemed to rear their heads again as the defender struggled to deal with the direct running of Spurs’ young forwards. He was lucky to pick up only a yellow early in the second. Removed for Prodl before he got himself sent off.

Ake: 7
An outstanding tackle in the area in the early period against Kane set the tone for an encouraging display by the Chelsea loanee, who was full of defensive gusto whilst looking to overlap beyond Jurado. Would have every right to feel aggrieved over a red card for what was a high, but not criminally dangerous, challenge.

Abdi: 5
Could hardly complain when he was hooked off at half-time as far too often he was simply bypassed when Tottenham looked to counter.

GETTY IMAGES

Watford 1 Tottenham 2 player ratings

WATFORD

Capoue: 5
Perhaps he was overawed by the prospect of a reunion with his former employers, because the dominant midfield presence of recent months was not often to be seen at Vicarage Road. Bar a few efforts from outside the area he did little of note.

Watson: 6
Solid as ever in the heart of Watford’s midfield, he made himself a tough player to get past whenever Tottenham looked to stream forward.

Juardo: 6
The only one of Watford’s midfielders to provide much threat in attack, he looked to make the most of Trippier’s eagerness to bomb on. Though he cut inside often he never looked like crafting a shooting opportunity for either himself or his team-mates.

Watford 1 Tottenham 2 player ratings

WATFORD

Ighalo: 7
Spent most of the opening 45 minutes on the sidelines of the contest but when an opportunity fell to him he was yet again more than up to the task. The goal inspired him and his pacey running posed plenty more challenges to Spurs in the second half.

Deeney: 5
Struggled far more than his strike partner with Tottenham’s back five, dropping wide, deep and anywhere else he could to try to find space to operate. Whilst he had plenty of the ball he didn’t often look like he would do much with it.

Best off the bench: Behrami: 5
Offered little more than Abdi after replacing him for the second half as yet again the Watford anchorman struggled to follow Tottenham’s fast and fluid front three.

Watford 1 Tottenham 2 player ratings

TOTTENHAM

Lloris: 5
Was uncharacteristically slow off his line as Ighalo pouched an equaliser from close range. It was his only significant call to action and he was found wanting.

Trippier: 7
The addition of an extra body to the Spur’s backline gave Trippier licence to get forward, which he exploited ably. He could have had an assist after a dreamy cross for Kane.

Alderweireld: 7
Constantly alert to Deeney’s attempts to slip behind him down the left, which he covered with ease. He cut out one pass from the Watford striker on the aftermath with considerable élan, scarcely worried that Ighalo would surely have scored if he had misjudged his move.

Watford 1 Tottenham 2 player ratings

TOTTENHAM

Vertonghen: 6
Another to flourish in a back five, he came forward at will to showcase his fine passing range. With just two in the Spurs midfield Vertonghen’s ability to dictate the play from deep was vital for the visitors.

Rose: 5
Did not quite make the most of his chances to bomb on down the left flank, particularly with Watford posing little attacking threat on his side of the pitch. It was all too rare that Rose, such a pacey attacking presence, was seen in the opposition’s third of the pitch.

Dier: 6
Looked as at ease in the heart of Tottenham’s defence as he had in midfield, offering a spare man whilst Alderweireld and Vertonghen dealt with Watford’s front two. However he was found wanting when Ighalo brought the hosts level as he was all too easily turned by the striker.

Watford 1 Tottenham 2 player ratings

TOTTENHAM

Dembele: 5
Seemed a touch off the pace in the first period, and it was little surprise when Christian Eriksen was brought on before the half was over.

Lamela: 8
Flourished in his role in Pochettino’s reconstituted attacking trio, ably switching positions with Kane to allow himself space to run at the Watford backline. When he is able to play his natural attacking game he is unquestionably a force to be reckoned with.

Alli: 7
The passing was as accurate as ever from the youngster, who seemed to have few difficulties playing on the left of a front three nor when he was pushed back alongside Carroll. In the centre of the pitch he tackled well, won the ball in the air and prompted attacks. Another impressive display from the youngster.

Watford 1 Tottenham 2 player ratings

TOTTENHAM

Carroll: 6
Rarely put a foot wrong in the heart of midfield, neat and tidy in possession, but then he rarely stated his case for a more regular starting slot by doing something to ask questions of the Watford defence.

Kane: 7<
His 2015 had got off to the biggest of bangs as he inspired Tottenham past Chelsea and he will have little reason to be disappointed with how it ended, even if it did not include a goal. Full of running, he dovetailed well with Lamela and, on another day, might have converted a chance.

Eriksen: 6
One of those games where Eriksen was too ponderous in possession to challenge the Watford defence, and indeed his lack of zip in the second period was rather damaging for the visitors, who couldn’t craft a way behind Watford.

Best off the bench: Heung-min Son: 7
A quiet presence off the bench until his late winner, expertly taken with a backheel worthy of deciding any contest.

Who was your man of the match? Let us know in the comments below...

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Watford 1 Tottenham 2 player ratings: Who impressed for Spurs as title challenge gathers pace?

A look at the individual performances at Vicarage Road

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Watford 1 Tottenham 2 player ratings

Watford 1 Tottenham 2 player ratings

WATFORD

Watford 1 Tottenham 2 player ratings

WATFORD

Watford 1 Tottenham 2 player ratings

WATFORD

Watford 1 Tottenham 2 player ratings

WATFORD

Watford 1 Tottenham 2 player ratings

TOTTENHAM

Watford 1 Tottenham 2 player ratings

TOTTENHAM

Watford 1 Tottenham 2 player ratings

TOTTENHAM

Watford 1 Tottenham 2 player ratings

TOTTENHAM

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