The Big e-Spurs Preview - Tottenham vs. Watford

Tottenham have put themselves in contention for the Premier League title but one of the obstacles in their way is the impending fixture congestion. They are still in the FA Cup, of course, and the Europa League is looming. It's going to be a test of Maurico Pochettino's squad; he has strength in depth - and he's going to need it.

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Our next game after this one is away at Manchester City so it's fair to say it's approaching crunch time for Spurs.

Preview continues below.....

Watford have come through a tricky patch and only need seven points to reach the perceived safety mark of 40 points.

They, and the front two of Odion Ighalo and Troy Deeney in particular, are well capable of stalling Tottenham's progress.

The Opposition

Full name: Watford Football Club

Nickname(s): The Hornets, The Golden Boys,Yellow Army, The 'Orns

Founded: 1881; 135 years ago
Ground: Vicarage Road
Capacity: 21,577
Owner: Gino Pozzo
Chairman: Raffaele Riva
Head coach: Quique Sánchez Flores
League: Premier League
2014–15 The Championship, 2nd (promoted)
Website: Club home page

The Last 5 - Tottenham

Premier League - Norwich 0-3 Tottenham

FA Cup - Colchester 1-4 Tottenham

Premier League - Crystal Palace 1-3 Tottenham

FA Cup - Leicester 0-2 Tottenham

Premier League - Tottenham 0-1 Leicester

The Last 5 - Watford

Premier League - Watford 0-0 Chelsea

FA Cup - Nottm Forest 0-1 Watford

Premier League - Watford 2-1 Newcastle

Premier League - Swansea 1-0 Watford

Premier League - Southampton 2-0 Watford

Stat Attack

- Tottenham have won five successive league matches against Watford at White Hart Lane.

- Watford are winless in the last seven league meetings since a 1-0 home victory in May 1987 (D3, L4).

- Spurs are vying to record four successive Premier League wins for the first time in two years.

Teams News - Tottenham

Tottenham head coach Mauricio Pochettino is hopeful that midfielder Dele Alli will be available, despite complaining of dizziness against Norwich in midweek.

Ryan Mason has recovered from an ankle injury, but Jan Vertonghen and Clinton Njie are both out with knee problems.

Teams News - Watford

Nathan Ake returns for Watford, having been ineligible to play against his parent club Chelsea on Wednesday.

Miguel Britos and Etienne Capoue have both been ill and will be assessed.

Views of the e-Spurs Podcast Team

Jason's View

Much has happened in the 6 games we’ve had since Boxing Day when we went to Watford just 3 points in front of them. They were in great form, with a very impressive 3-0 win over Liverpool, followed by a 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge. We ourselves went into it on the back of wins over Saints & Norwich and a tough close game was expected, which is exactly what we got. Pochettino, recognising the threats that Ighalo & Deeney had caused everyone, came up with a change in shape as Dier effectively played as a 3rd Centre back. Overall the plan worked, but Ighalo still managed to make Eric looked like a pub player as he nutmegged him and scored. Judging by Spurs TV this week, Dele Alli is not likely to let him forget it.

Despite being the better side over the 90 minutes that day, and Watford being reduced to 10 men, we struggled after the sending off, lost our way started giving the ball away needlessly, dropping deeper and we feared the worst. In fact, had it not been for modern technology, Watford probably would have been awarded a goal. Instead, we rode the storm, and then nicked it ourselves with Son’s quality flick. Since then, we’ve waved goodbye to Watford, and now lead them by 12 points.

That defeat started a decline in form for Watford, another 3 defeats followed but a win over Newcastle and a point against Chelsea has halted their slide. Ighalo himself has scored just once in the PL since scoring against us, and Deeney has scored with just 2 penalties in his last 10 PL games. But we do know they are a handful, and Kevin Wimmer’s excellent start will come under it’s biggest test so far. We’ll certainly see if he can handle the physical battle.

I always feel the key thing with dangerous front players is to stop the supply into them, but dropping Dier back invites the supply and then does make it into a straight battle. I’d be surprised at WHL if we actually do drop Dier all the way back.

Norwich was overall such a comfortable victory, several players were able almost to coast through the game, so there should be plenty left in the tank for what I expect to be a more physical game, and with a bit of rotation (who didn’t think Chadli would play at Norwich), plenty of options at our disposal.

It’s a must win game in our position, we’re getting to the stage now where we can’t drop any unexpected points, and with confidence high, I do expect us to pick up the 3 points in a 2-0 win. Hopefully, we’ve also prepared ourselves for the Ben Watson corners!!!

Then it’s a nice full week off before a big one at City. But, we are still in the preliminary rounds of a title chase!!!!! That really starts in March!

Jon's View

No new striker? No problem! I am in the minority of Spurs fans who really believed that a new striker wasn't the be-all and end-all of our season. We needed a defensive midfielder in the summer didn't we? It turns out that Eric Dier was the answer all along!

If Mauricio Pochettino tells us that he's got enough options up front then I believe him. And I'll tell you why. Harry Kane has scored 15 of our 44 league goals so far this season. Compare that with Watford and you'll see that Ighalo & Deeney have scored 20 of their 27 league goals, with Ighalo scoring more than half of those with 14.

Maybe we are not as reliant on our no.10 for goals as you may think. With regular scorers from all over the pitch and a rock solid defence, I can only see a home win happening at White Hart Lane on Saturday afternoon.

I predict a 2-0 win for Spurs, with a Heurelho Gomes 'accident' leading to at least one of the goals! COYS 

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