Watford maintain perfect start

Watford have won their opening four games of a league campaign for the first time in 30 years

Watford maintained their perfect start to the Premier League season as they came from behind to shock Tottenham at Vicarage Road.

Both sides began the match with 100% records, but Craig Cathcart’s second-half header decided a tight encounter.

Captain Troy Deeney had drawn his side level seven minutes earlier, cancelling out Spurs’ fortuitous opener as Watford midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure bundled into his own net.

Victory meant Watford won the opening four games of a league campaign for the first time in 30 years and joined Liverpool and Chelsea on maximum points at the top of the table.

In a first half of limited chances, England midfielder Dele Alli had the earliest opportunity for either side with a looping header that only momentarily concerned the back-pedalling Ben Foster, before Deeney headed over for the Hornets from Daryl Janmaat’s inviting cross during a particularly quiet opening 20 minutes.

Harry Kane, in particular, cut a frustrated figure for Spurs and it took until first-half stoppage time for either side to manage a shot on target – Deeney’s weak long-range effort collected by Michel Vorm, stand-in for injured Spurs captain Hugo Lloris.

But the visitors found themselves ahead soon after the break, as Doucoure turned into his own net after Watford had failed to clear.

Deeney led the charge as the Hornets looked to respond and saw his cross diverted on to the crossbar by Spurs defender Toby Alderweireld moments before levelling from the resulting corner.

And it was another set-piece that allowed the Hornets to turn the game around on 76 minutes as defender Cathcart nestled a powerful header into the top corner of Vorm’s goal to ensure Watford’s best ever start to a Premier League season continues.

Watford had already managed their best ever Premier League start by defeating Crystal Palace, Burnley and Brighton with relative ease, but they proved their position in the early league table was no fluke as they matched Tottenham stride for stride.

The Hornets, with six wins and just one defeat under manager Javi Gracia, boasted a home record second only to Liverpool heading into the weekend and demonstrated exactly why sides have found it so tough at Vicarage Road against a Spurs side buoyed by Monday’s 3-0 win at Manchester United.

They kept the visitors at arm’s length with few scares during a tight first half and were, on the balance of play, unfortunate to find themselves behind as Frenchman Doucoure deflected the ball beyond team-mate Foster.

Jose Holebas and Roberto Pereyra continued to display excellent understanding down the left flank, although it was skipper Deeney in particular who once again proved the inspiration to his side.

It was Deeney’s unrelenting work-rate and willingness to chase the ball down that led to his equalising goal, which gave the Hornets the belief they needed as the momentum swung their way.

It is early days but the table does not mislead. This continues to be a brilliant start from Gracia’s side. – bbc.com