Tottenham Hotspur vs Watford
It’s been a month to forget for Spurs fans.
Embarrassing defeats in the Premier League and humiliation in Europe have shocked many — including this SBOBET writer — to such an extent that it seemed the root of the problems lay much deeper than football.
After all, this is largely the same group of players which again finished in the top four last term, creating many Premier League highlights along the way, and also reached the final of the Champions League.
While online rumours have been rife, and if correct would explain why it doesn’t seem a happy camp, that will do little to please the mood of the Spurs faithful who now need to begin this next period before the November international break with a run of victories.
Talking Points
The top flight’s bottom club, who have a goal difference of minus 16, may seem the perfect guests for a club very much in need of a morale boost.
However, Spurs only need look at the Hornets’ recent meeting with their arch-rivals Arsenal to see that the return of coach Quique Sanchez Flores has lifted spirits, even if the sacking of his predecessor seemed harsh from a club which has been trigger happy in its managerial hirings and firings in recent years.
The visitors won’t be helped mind by the absence of skipper Troy Deeney who, along with Isaac Success, remains sidelined. The tricky Gerard Deulofeu had to settle for a place on the bench last time out against Sheffield United but the Spaniard could return to the starting line-up for this one.
Like many of his teammates, Harry Kane looked jaded in the week leading up to the international break. But Monday’s 6-0 victory in Bulgaria appeared to reinvigorate the England captain, as he scored and provided three assists.
If Watford are to successfully halt to the likes of Kane, Heung-min Son and Lucas Moura, they will need their captain and strongest centre-back Craig Cathcart to be on top form.
Cathcart scored in both fixtures against Tottenham last season, netting the winner at Vicarage Road and opening the scoring at Wembley before Spurs staged a late comeback. The 30-year-old will be key if Watford are to record their first league win of the campaign.
Goalkeeper Hugo Lloris (elbow) joins Ryan Sessegnon (hamstring) and Giovani Lo Celso (hip) on the list of long-term absentees but Mauricio Pochettino otherwise has a fully fit squad to select from.
History
Watford’s 2-1 success last season at Vicarage Road was their first victory over Spurs since a dramatic finish in 1987.
It also was their first win over them in the Premier League following three draws and three defeats.
Spurs won the other two meetings, including a late comeback in January when two goals in the final 10 minutes from Son and Fernando Llorente sealed a 2-1 home win after Cathcart’s opener.
In between the league encounters, they had also met in the League Cup which Spurs won 4-2 on penalties after a 2-2 draw.
It was an exciting contest in which Success scored at the start of the second period to give the Hornets lead. That was how it stayed until eight minutes from time when Dele Alli and Erik Lamela netted twice in five minutes only for Etienne Capoue to level and force the penalty shoot-out.
In 2017/18 when the two sides met, Watford held Tottenham to a 1-1 draw after Christian Kabasele and Son traded early goals and Spurs played most of the second half with 10 men.
Spurs saw off the Hornets in the return Wembley fixture in April when Alli and Kane found the net in a 2-0 win.
Betting Tip
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Tottenham Hotspur vs Watford | Tottenham Hotspur Asian Handicap -1.50 @ 2.21 |
| October 19, 22:00 (GMT+8) |
Circumstances dictate this will be tight and, at times, edgy. But it’s still hard to see Watford gaining a first win of the season.
Spurs are naturally favourites with Premier League 2019 betting odds. You can get 1X2 odds on them @ 1.44 with the draw @ 4.40. Far adrift Watford are priced 1X2 @ 6.80.
The Hornets are no more attractive with Asian Handicap betting + 1.00 @ 2.31.
Goals are often plentiful when these sides meet and you can get over 3.00 goals @ 1.90, total goal 2-3 @ 2.14 and total goal 4-6 @ 2.66.
If Watford are to throw a spanner in the works and inflict more misery on Spurs, then how about double chance Watford or Draw @ 2.65?
But nevertheless, I am leaning towards a Spurs victory on this one.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR ( ) BETS ARE WORTH: |
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|---|---|---|---|
| = €20 (Highly confident) |
 = €10 (CONFIDENT) |
= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT) |
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Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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