Watford 1-4 Spurs

Harry Kane and Dele Alli delivered New Year's Day delight at Vicarage Road.

The pair scored two goals each in a commanding victory over Watford to make it four wins on the trot in the Premier League and eight goals in our last two away matches, both 4-1 scorelines.

In control from the first whistle, we did the damage with four goals in 20 minutes either side of half-time.

Kieran Trippier - back in the team for his first Premier League start of the season in place of suspended Kyle Walker - combined twice with Kane to send us on our way before Dele produced clinical finishes from Kane crosses on 41 and 47 minutes for 4-0.

We were in cruise control from there and a few more chances came and went with Kane denied a hat-trick by Heurelho Gomes.

The only minor blot was a goal in injury time for Younes Kaboul but apart from denting the pride of Hugo Lloris and the defence, that will be quickly forgotten as we march towards a meeting with Chelsea on Wednesday night.

Team news

Mauricio Pochettino made four changes to the team that started Wednesday night's win at Southampton. Walker and Jan Vertonghen were both suspended after picking up five yellow cards so Trippier came in for his first Premier League start of the campaign at right-back and Kevin Wimmer slotted in centrally alongside Toby Alderweireld, who returned after a back problem and virus kept him out of the games against Burnley and Watford. Alderweireld replaced Mousa Dembele while Heung-Min Son, goalscorer at St Mary's, came in for Moussa Sissoko. Dembele and Sissoko were both on the bench. Mauricio opted for three at the back - Eric Dier, Alderweireld and Wimmer.

Key action

Laying the foundations - 0-25mins
We dictated from the first whistle and carved out chances with Son, Danny Rose - possibly denied by an Etienne Capoue handball - and Kane all having sights at goal before the best chance fell for Rose. Christian Eriksen's pass was dummied by Dele and Rose, bursting onto it, blasted over. Eriksen then fizzed just over.

Woodwork: closest yet from Dele - 27mins
Wimmer won a crunching 50-50 and the ball went straight to Dele who needed no second invitation, he ran a few yards forward and unleashed a drive that rattled the crossbar.

Goal: Watford 0-1 Spurs - Harry Kane - 27mins
Seconds after striking the woodwork, the opener. Trippier and Kane exchanged passes down the right before Kane peeled into the box and Trippier found him with a slide-rule pass. There was still work to do from a tight angle but Kane finished clinically.

Goal: Watford 0-2 Spurs - Harry Kane - 33mins
It was the same combination for the second goal as Dele chipped a pass out to Trippier, who whipped in a wonderful cross from the right and Kane showed the desire to get between Sebastian Prodl and Craig Cathcart to volley past Gomes from six yards.

Below: Dele celebrates after making it 4-0

Goal: Watford 0-3 Spurs - Dele Alli - 41mins
Son angled a shot inches wide but it was soon 3-0 as Kaboul could only clear Kane's cross straight to Dele, who got the better of Cathcart before angling his shot home off the post. It stayed 3-0 at the break.

Goal: Watford 0-4 Spurs - Dele Alli - 47mins
We were back on the goals trail just two minutes into the second half as Kane turned provider again, this time his cross from the right was controlled by Dele before tucking home from the left angle.

In control: a few chances - 48-90mins
Naturally, we started to take our collective foot off the pedal slightly after going 4-0 up but we still carved out chances - Son went close twice, Kane was denied a hat-trick by Gomes and Dier volleyed over from the edge of the box.

Goal: Watford 1-4 Spurs - Younes Kaboul - 90+2mins
The only blot on the afternoon, Kaboul connected with a free-kick at the far post, Lloris kept the initial shot out with a trademark reaction save but Kaboul was able to scramble the loose ball home.

Mauricio Pochettino said

"I'm very pleased with the performance and the effort of the team. I think it was fantastic at a very difficult place, to play in the way we played was very good and it was one of the best performances so far. I think the first half was fantastic, 3-0, and with the way that the team played, it’s something to be very proud of."

Dele Alli said

"It was great, a fantastic result. The fans were fantastic today, they never stopped singing and it was great that we could repay them and start the year with a win. We’re in good form and we’ve got good confidence. It’s a good atmosphere in the changing room and this is an important win for us and for our mentality going into the next game because it’s a massive game for us and it’s important that we win it."

Match data

Watford (3-5-2): Gomes; Kaboul, Prödl, Cathcart; Capoue (Kabasele 79), Guedioura, Holebas (Mason 68), Amrabat (Sinclair 75), Doucouré; Deeney (c), Ighalo. Substitutes (not used): Pantilimon, Stewart, Rowan, Folivi.

Spurs (3-5-2): Lloris (c), Dier, Alderweireld, Wimmer; Trippier, Wanyama, Dele (Winks 61), Eriksen, Rose (Davies 68); Son, Kane (Janssen 77). Substitutes (not used): Vorm, Carter-Vickers, Dembele, Sissoko.

Goals: Spurs - Kane 27, 33, Dele 41, 47.

Yellow cards: Watford - Holebas 44, Prodl 63, Cathcart 83.

Referee: Michael Oliver.

Attendance: 20,882.

Up next

It's the big one as we take on Premier League leaders Chelsea at the Lane on Wednesday night! Kick-off is 8pm.