A late goal from Dele Alli spared Tottenham’s blushes as they were held to a 1-1 draw by the Premier League’s basement club Watford at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Alli’s goal caused confusion due to complications with the video assistant referee (VAR).
The VAR was having a closer look after it appeared the Tottenham midfielder had controlled the ball with his arm but, although the big screen indicated the decision to award the equaliser had been overturned, it had in fact been given as a goal.
Dele Alli and Lucas Moura came into the starting XI, with Pochettino switching to a back three. As far as the visitors were concerned, Watford made two changes with Craig Dawson and Nathaniel Chalobah coming in for Sebastian Prodl and Andre Gray.
Tottenham got off to an awful start as they fell behind after just six minutes, Abdoulaye Doucoure with a superb finish from Daryl Janmaat’s assist. Despite going a goal down, the hosts dominated the ball but struggled to penetrate Watford’s defence.
Watford then felt they should have had a penalty – and certainly had a good case. Jan Vertonghen brought down Gerard Deulofeu with a clumsy challenge in the box but despite the replay showing contact, VAR said no penalty. With Spurs trailing, Mauricio Pochettino sent Heung-min Son at the interval for Davinson Sanchez.
Son nearly made an instant impact, racing past Craig Cathcart only to smash against the underside of the bar. Watford went up the other end and should’ve doubled their advantage when Deulofeu unselfishly found Roberto Pereyra, but the Argentine’s effort was blocked by Toby Alderweireld.
Pochettino’s side looked to be heading for their third consecutive defeat across all competitions, only for Alli to level when he pounced on the loose ball after Foster made a hash of punching away a lofted pass. Sure enough, the goal was allowed to stand as Alli rescued a point for the struggling Spurs.
Frustrated after the 1-1 draw with Watford, here’s how some Tottenham fans reacted.
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