Davinson Sanchez grabbed a last gasp winner as Tottenham beat struggling Watford 1-0 to extend Antonio Conte’s unbeaten start on Saturday. Sanchez broke Watford’s stubborn resistance well into stoppage time at Vicarage Road. The Colombian defender’s header has given Tottenham a fifth victory in their last seven Premier League games. Conte remains unbeaten after eight league games, while the Italian continues to revive a club in turmoil when he was hired to replace sacked Nuno Espirito Santo. Tottenham rise to fifth place, just two points behind fourth in north London, rivals Arsenal with two games in hand.
Watford are the only club to have kept a clean sheet in the Premier League this season and have a record 28 consecutive games without a club.
Claudio Ranieri’s side are just two points above the relegation zone after a sixth consecutive loss.
In an effort to improve their chances of survival, Watford had refused to release Emmanuel Dennis for the Africa Cup of Nations.
A statement from the Nigerian Football Association said Dennis was excused because Watford had “jaws with bared teeth”.
Dennis, who has scored eight goals this season, was quick to show why Watford wanted to keep him so badly.
He created an early chance when he slid into Juraj Kucka, who twisted to make room for a shot straight at Hugo Lloris.
Tottenham threatened for the first time when Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg shot over after Watford’s Craig Cathcart failed to clear a cross from Lucas Moura.
Harry Kane had scored five goals in his previous New Years Day appearances and the Tottenham striker was chasing another with a powerful drive well kept by Daniel Bachmann.
Hojbjerg called in Sergio Reguilon for a ferocious attack from the edge of the area, but Bachmann was right on the blast.
Kane should have opened the score after half an hour, the England captain seized on Imran Louza’s mistake and shot just wide.
He got close shortly after the break and turned his marker on the edge of the area for a rising effort that knocked Bachmann over.
Watford was aiming to keep Conte’s men at bay, but they finally made a remarkable move when Josh King’s shot forced a good save from Lloris.
Bachmann was the only one standing between Tottenham and three points when the Austrian repelled Son Heung-min’s attack on Moura’s pass.
Watford thought they deserved a penalty when Joao Pedro’s attack was halted by Lloris’ challenge, but much to the Hornets’ frustration, VAR checked in Tottenham’s favour.
There was a five-minute delay in the closing stages as medics rushed to deal with a supporter who was apparently ill in the Graham Taylor stands.
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It turned out to be a pivotal moment as Tottenham won it well into the time allotted for that break.
Son won a free kick off the left and his set-piece was perfectly placed for Sanchez to nod home from close range.
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