Son Heung-min marked his 200th Premier League appearance with the winning goal as Tottenham maintained their 100% start to the season against Watford.
The result means Spurs will top the table heading into September’s international break, while Watford are 12th.
It also sees Nuno Espirito Santo become just the second Tottenham boss to win his first three league games in charge of the club, with the last man to accomplish that feat being Arthur Rowe in 1949.
But they were made to work hard for their victory by an accomplished Watford side who were unfortunate to concede when Son’s inswinging free-kick deceived goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann and found the bottom-right corner.
While Harry Kane was unusually quiet on his first top-flight start for Tottenham, Steven Bergwijn, Eric Dier and Dele Alli all had chances for the hosts.
However, Xisco Munoz’s side offered plenty of attacking threat of their own.
Juraj Kucka twice failed to capitalise on good opportunities to score and Emmanuel Dennis also gave Spurs some uncomfortable moments.
More to follow.
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Line-ups
Tottenham
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Lloris
- 25Tanganga
- 6D Sánchez
- 15Dier
- 3Reguilón
- 5Højbjerg
- 29SkippBooked at 85mins
- 7Son Heung-MinSubstituted forGilat 88′minutes
- 20AlliBooked at 61mins
- 23BergwijnSubstituted forLucas Mouraat 68′minutes
- 10KaneBooked at 45mins
Substitutes
- 2Doherty
- 4Romero
- 8Winks
- 11Gil
- 18Lo Celso
- 19R Sessegnon
- 22Gollini
- 27Lucas Moura
- 33Davies
Watford
Formation 4-1-4-1
- 26Bachmann
- 15CathcartSubstituted forNgakiaat 51′minutes
- 5Troost-Ekong
- 31Sierralta
- 11Masina
- 4EteboBooked at 29mins
- 23Sarr
- 19SissokoBooked at 54minsSubstituted forCleverleyat 71′minutes
- 33Kucka
- 25DennisBooked at 90mins
- 7KingSubstituted forHernández Suárezat 65′minutes
Substitutes
- 2Ngakia
- 3Rose
- 6Louza
- 8Cleverley
- 12Sema
- 17Fletcher
- 27Kabasele
- 29Hernández Suárez
- 35Elliot
- Referee:
- Andre Marriner
- Attendance:
- 57,672
Live Text
Match ends, Tottenham Hotspur 1, Watford 0.
Second Half ends, Tottenham Hotspur 1, Watford 0.
Emmanuel Dennis (Watford) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Lucas Moura (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Emmanuel Dennis (Watford).
Corner, Tottenham Hotspur. Conceded by Cucho Hernández.
Corner, Tottenham Hotspur. Conceded by Francisco Sierralta.
Offside, Watford. Peter Etebo tries a through ball, but Ismaila Sarr is caught offside.
Hugo Lloris (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Tom Cleverley (Watford).
Offside, Tottenham Hotspur. Lucas Moura tries a through ball, but Harry Kane is caught offside.
Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur. Bryan Gil replaces Son Heung-Min.
Davinson Sánchez (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Emmanuel Dennis (Watford).
Oliver Skipp (Tottenham Hotspur) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Oliver Skipp (Tottenham Hotspur).
Ismaila Sarr (Watford) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Attempt saved. Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Japhet Tanganga.
Corner, Tottenham Hotspur. Conceded by William Troost-Ekong.
Davinson Sánchez (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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