Deeney misses penalty as Watford and Tottenham ends goalless

Troy Deeney missed a second-half penalty as Watford and Tottenham ended in a 0-0 stalemate.

Nigel Pearson opted to remain unchanged after last weekend’s demolition of Bournemouth at the Vitality whilst Jose Mourinho made two changes from the Tottenham who tasted defeat against Liverpool in their previous Premier League game, Jan Vertonghen and Giovani Lo Celso replacing Danny Rose and Christian Eriksen.

Tottenham’s line-up featured plenty of attacking promise, Nigel Pearson’s Watford more than capable of launching dangerous counter-attacks however.

It was the visitors who pushed forward in the early stages. The asymmetrical back four which Jose Mourinho has been known to favour during his time at Spurs, with Serge Aurier pushing up and the left-back tucking in, seemed to be working as Ivorian created numerous chances in the opening exchanges.

Watford first chance fell to Ismaila Sarr. After fellow Frenchman Abdoulaye Doucare dispossessed Harry Winks, the ball was fed back to Sarr, who was unable to sort out his feet and blazed over.

The Hornets fans were soon calling for Tottenham youngster Japhet Tanganga to be sent off after a tangle with Sarr, Michael Oliver deciding the young Englishman wasn’t denying his opponent a clear goalscoring opportunity and only saw yellow.

‘It’s not football anymore’ sung the home faithful when failure in referee Oliver’s equipment resulted in a long stoppage in play.

Continued Watford attacks brung more positive chants out of the Watford fans inside Vicarage Road as Gerard Deulofeu and Nathaniel Chalobah both had good openings to get the opener.

The best chance of the match so far fell to Lucas Moura when the Brazilian was rolled through by Dele Alli, Watford ‘keeper Ben Foster quick off his line to narrow the angle and block the shot.

Troy Deeney’s unmarked header inside the box was as close at Watford came to a goal in the first half, the Hornet’s captain floating a ball harmlessly into the arms of Paulo Gazzaniga.

It remained goalless at the break but the Golden Boys almost ensured a quick start to the second period when Doucoure bundled a close-range effort just wide.

Sarr pulled wide minutes later as Watford looked the most likely to opening the deadlock.

At the other end, Son’s cross was just unable to be diverted home by the arriving Dele.

Deeney’s touch and shot almost deflected past Gazzaniga as chances were aplenty at the start of the second half.

Son was first onto a loose ball but could only fire over after a scuffle between Doucoure and a number of Tottenham players ended in just a yellow card for the Frenchman despite a VAR check.

With just over 20 minutes remaining, Watford were awarded a penalty when Jan Vertonghen was adjudged to have handled the ball in an unnatural position.

Troy Deeney stepped up for the Hornets but saw his penalty saved at a comfortable height for Gazzaniga much to the despair of the home fans.

Watford fans were remembering the third-year anniversary of Graham Taylor’s passing and observed a minutes applause for their self-proclaimed ‘greatest ever manager’ before kick-off and during the second half.

Gedson Fernandes entered the game for his Tottenham debut as the game became stretched with neither team happy to settle for a draw.

Etienne Capoue, who may have been fortunate to still be on the field after a number of first half fouls, struck a fearsome volley late on for Watford, his goal-bound shot being blocked by a Tottenham defender.

Tottenham’s Erik Lamela had several speculative efforts from outside the box but never really troubled Ben Foster.

Jose Mourinho’s side were millimetres away from stealing all three points when Lamela was inches away from poking home, referee Oliver signalling that goal-line technology had not signalled the ball crossing the line.

That would prove the final chance of the match as Pearson and Mourinho were made to settle for a point each.

The result sees both clubs jump up one place in the Premier League table before the rest of this weekend’s fixtures, Spurs moving up to seventh and Watford 16th.