• CONOR CLANCY

Actualizado 01/01/2022 - 18:24

Antonio Conte's Tottenham gained ground on those ahead of them in the race for Champions League qualification with a late 1-0 win away to Watford on New Year's Day.

Davinson Sanchez headed home a late winner for Spurs after a hard-fought and closely contested game at Vicarage Road.

Spurs had the better of their hosts for most of the afternoon, boasting 75 percent of the possession and having 21 shots to Watford's six. For all their dominance, though, Conte's side failed to carve out too many clear-cut chances to threaten Daniel Bachmann in the Hornets' goal.

Harry Kane had a shot from the edge of the area that he might have expected to do better with after pouncing on some poor distribution from the goalkeeper to pick up the ball close to the box.

Claudio Ranieri's side set up with a deep back four, but both Juraj Kucka and Ken Sema on either flank played so deep that Watford's defence resembled a back six on occasion, making life difficult for Spurs.

After a brief stoppage in play due to a medical emergency in the crowd, Tottenham broke through. Son Heung-min whipped in a cross from a free-kick on the left that Colombian defender Sanchez was able to head home unmarked from right in front of Bachmann's goal.