Watford and Spurs share spoils after exciting goalless draw

It was goalless at Vicarage Road, but it was far from a boring encounter. The two teams registered over 30 shots between them, but only around a fifth of those ended up being on target. Poor finishing, last gasp defending and a penalty save meant the game ended 0-0 and both sides went home with a point. Spurs had the better of the first half while Watford were on top in the second. 

Watford's best chance came in the 70th minute after Vertonghen handled Gerard Deulofeu's strike, but Troy Deeney's penalty was poor and Paulo Gazzaniga made a good save down to his right. At the other end, the closest Spurs came was right at the end when Aurier's cross was bundled towards goal by Erik Lamela, but substitute Pussetto cleared off the line right at the last possible moment. A draw was definitely a fair result. 

Spurs started the game better and felt they should have had a penalty inside two minutes after the ball struck Cathcart on the arm, but the referee turned down their appeals. Replays showed his arm was out and the Watford man was perhaps fortunate to get away with it. Spurs continued to attack and Son and Lamela hit off target inside the first 10 minutes, but Foster had little to do in the Watford goal. 

Then Watford came into the game through Sarr and the hosts started to create more. The four minute stoppage due to a problem with the referee's communication equipment seemed to help Spurs as they picked up afterwards and Lucas Moura had the best chance of the half seven minutes before the break. Dele Alli gave the ball to Moura on the counter and the Brazilian saw his shot saved as he tried to knock it through Foster's legs instead of dinking the ball over him.

Son and Deeney had a chance at each end before the end and a half which started with Spurs dominating, ended much more even. After the break, it was the Hornets who would take over and they should have scored just two minutes after the resumption. Sarr sent in a cross from the far side, Deeney cleverly let the ball run through to Doucoure who took a touch before inexplicably hitting wide of the goal when it was easier to score than miss. 

Spurs then nearly punished Watford at the other end, but Dele Alli headed Son's cross over at the back post. Son himself then had an opportunity just after the hour mark following handbags between Doucoure and Vertonghen. However, Watford were the better team in the second half and they got a golden opportunity 20 minutes from time. 

A Lo Celso slip in his own box allowed Deulofeu to shoot goalwards and the ball struck Vertonghen on the arm which was up in the air. Michael Oliver, the referee, had no hesitation in pointing to the spot, but Troy Deeney's penalty was poor, Gazzaniga made a good save and Spurs had got away with it. 

Despite both teams trying to find a winner late on, neither side was able to break the deadlock. However, in the 91st minute, Erik Lamela thought he had won it for Spurs only for substitute Pussetto to clear off the line when more than 90% of the ball had crossed the line. It was that kind of day, lots of chances, but a lack of quality finishing saw this one deservedly end goalless.