While it won’t go down as Tottenham’s most aesthetically pleasing victory, the 1-0 result at Watford was a landmark triumph for numerous reasons.
If you were stewing and lamenting in injury time, rueing yet another two dropped points, you certainly weren’t alone. It looked as if Tottenham were on course for another incredibly frustrating draw against a perceived minnow of the division. The Hornets were unquestionably prime for the taking, though Claudio Ranieri had no intentions of going quietly into the Watford night.
Organized, resilient and resolute throughout, Watford made Tottenham work for every inch of real estate. While Tottenham fashioned more than enough chances to take all three points, it took a Davinson Sanchez close-range header in injury time to secure the victory.
If you’ve been around the Premier League long enough, you know these type of victories are often more important than the comfortable ones. Here’s the three reasons this particular victory is so meaningful for Antonio Conte’s side.