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Spurs 1-0 Watford: Son free-kick on 200th Prem game secures win

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Nuno Espirito Santo became the first Spurs manager since Arthur Rowe back in 1949 to win his first three league fixtures in a row at the start of his tenure as manager, as a Heung-min Son free-kick downed a resilient Watford side yesterday afternoon.

On his 200th appearance in the Premier League, the Korean superstar netted his second goal of the season in the 42nd minute as his set-piece from out-wide evaded a touch from every player in the box before creeping past Austrian keeper Daniel Bachmann into the far corner.

The game started off end-to-end, as Bachmann’s clearance in the first couple of seconds was intercepted by Steven Bergwijn, but Harry Kane couldn’t take advantage on his return to the starting line-up in the league.

Seconds later Spurs were forced into conceding a corner after tricky play from the visitor’s new signing Emmanuel Dennis, who has got his Watford career off to a great start, but Nuno’s defence were able to contain him for the vast majority of the game.

Japhet Tanganga and Sergio Reguilon initially found it difficult to stop Dennis and Ismaila Sarr, but after ten minutes passed it was Spurs who remained in control of the game for the rest of the 90 minutes.

Shortly before the goal, Dele Alli, Bergwijn and Tanganga all had great chances to get the second goal, but a mixture of excellent defending and poor finishing denied the hosts.

Kane had a huge chance in the second half to wrap up the points after an excellent run and cross from Lucas Moura, but former Spurs defender William Troost-Ekong – who played in the same youth side as the England captain, managed to get a toe on the ball to stop the striker from tapping in from close range.

The lead was almost doubled also through Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, who saw his low free-kick deflected towards the bottom right corner, but Bachmann just about managed to keep the ball out – but his efforts were in vein as the Hornets failed to find a late equaliser.

Watford also gave a debut to Moussa Sissoko, after his permanent transfer from the club went through just a couple days before, while Danny Rose remained on the bench.

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