SON HEUNG-MIN’S 89th-minute strike sent Tottenham Hotspur third in the Premier League on Monday in a 2-1 win at Watford, as Louis van Gaal prepared for what may prove his final game as Manchester United manager.
Tottenham took a 17th-minute lead when Erik Lamela stabbed home following a defensive mix-up, before Odion Ighalo stabbed home his 14th goal of the season to equalise for Watford four minutes before half-time.
But Watford lost Nathan Ake to a red card for a waist-high foul on Lamela in the 63rd minute and Son struck at the death, gathering Kieran Trippier’s half-volleyed pass and beating Heurelho Gomes.
“The victory is very important for us,” said Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino, whose side are now three points below leaders Leicester City.
“We worked hard to try and win and are happy because Watford are a difficult team and beat Liverpool recently.
“We need to feel proud for the players. It was a great effort after only playing 48 hours ago.”
Pochettino’s side go third on goal difference above Manchester City, who visit Leicester on Tuesday, while Quique Sanchez Flores’s Watford, beaten for the first time in six games, stay seventh.
Crystal Palace remain in fifth place, four points below the Champions League berths, following a goalless home draw with Swansea City.
- Villa cut adrift -
Goals in each half from Jonny Howson and Dieumerci Mbokani gave Norwich City a 2-0 win over Aston Villa that left the Midlands club 11 points adrift at the foot of the table.
Newcastle United also remain in the bottom three, along with northeast rivals Sunderland, after falling to a 78th-minute Darren Fletcher header in a 1-0 defeat at West Bromwich Albion.
Premier League results:
Crystal Palace 0 Swansea 0
Everton 3 (Lukaku 22, 64, Deulofeu 71) Stoke 4 (Shaqiri 16, 45, Joselu 80, Arnautovic 90-pen)
Norwich 2 (Howson 24, Mbokani 87) Aston Villa 0
Watford 1 (Ighalo 41) Tottenham 2 (Lamela 17, Son 89)
West Brom 1 (Fletcher 78) Newcastle 0
