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Dele Alli\u2019s late goal rescued a point for Tottenham in a 1-1 draw with winless Watford, but it does not mask another dismal afternoon for Mauricio Pochettino\u2019s men.<\/p>\nDele Alli\u2019s late goal rescued a point for Tottenham in a 1-1 draw with winless Watford, but it does not mask another dismal afternoon for Mauricio Pochettino\u2019s men.<\/p>\n
Spurs were on course for a 15th defeat in their last 30 games in all competitions until Alli scored for the first time since January in the 86th minute, despite a faux pas by VAR officials, who originally showed a message of \u2018no goal\u2019.<\/p>\n
Tottenham had lost 7-2 to Bayern Munich and 3-0 to Brighton before the international break, but this was every inch as bad as they fell behind to an early goal by Abdoulaye Doucoure.<\/p>\n
In fact, Watford, who lost 8-0 to Manchester City three weeks ago, could have won comfortably had they been more clinical on the break, but they were denied a memorable first three points of the season and the first of Quique Sanchez Flores\u2019 second reign.<\/p>\n
For Spurs, even though they rallied for a point, it appears the rot has set in and on the evidence of the last few weeks, this is a team that has simply run its course under Pochettino.<\/p>\n
The players or the tactics are no longer working and the same old problems were laid bare in a dismal first half, where Watford quite possibly could not believe their luck.<\/p>\n
After Danny Welbeck limped off inside the opening three minutes, things got much better for the visitors as they took a sixth-minute lead.<\/p>\n
Danny Rose misjudged a long ball, which allowed Daryl Janmaat in down the right and his brilliant cross was swept home by Doucoure from 12 yards.<\/p>\n
It was a superb move from Watford, but huge questions need asking about Spurs\u2019 defense.<\/p>\n
It was the worst possible start for the hosts, given their time-old problem of breaking down teams who pack the defense, which the Hornets unsurprisingly did.<\/p>\n
Newcastle won here doing exactly the same in August and this turned out to a carbon-copy as Spurs looked clueless as to how to break their visitors down.<\/p>\n
Indeed, Alli\u2019s shot, which went straight to Ben Foster, was their only effort on goal and it could have been even worse had VAR decided to award Watford a penalty after what looked like a clear trip ob Gerard Deulofeu.<\/p>\n
Pochettino responded by bringing Son on at half-time and he almost had an instant impact as he cut in from the right and fired in a thunderous shot, which Foster did well to tip on to the crossbar.<\/p>\n
That ought to have been a catalyst for a Spurs onslaught, but they again struggled to show any sort of creativity or craft and if Watford had been better on the break they could have wrapped up the game.<\/p>\n
Deulofeu twice got in on goal but chose the wrong option on both occasions and Spurs got away with it.<\/p>\n
It did not look like they were going to make it count as they continued to labor, until a defensive mistake allowed them back into the game.<\/p>\n
Kiko Femenia got in the way of Foster, who spilled the ball, allowing Alli to chest it and then convert.<\/p>\n
VAR had a look for handball, but the goal was awarded, even if the screens in the stadium showed the decision as \u2018no goal\u2019 after referee Chris Kavanagh had signaled a goal.<\/p>\n
Spurs threw everything forward in an attempt to find a winner they would not have deserved, but they fell short.<\/p>\n