- Oct 17, 2006
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Official Site Match Centre
REFEREE: ---- Andre Marriner ???????
TEAM FORM: - Spurs - WWLWW ------ Watford - DLWLW --------- (All competitions)
We will be looking to open the new season with three successive Premier League victories for just the second time in 12 years, when we host newly-promoted Watford on Sunday. The Hornets, meanwhile, have a dismal away record in London, winning just two of their last 22 league games in the capital and failing to win in each of their last 10.
Nunes has made an assured start to life in our dugout, claiming three wins and three clean sheets from four matches across all competitions. Successive 1-0 Premier League victories against Manchester City and Wolverhampton Wanderers were followed by a comfortable 3-0 against Pacos de Ferreira in our Europa Conference League playoff on Thursday night.
We were delighted to see club legend Kane in the starting lineup for the first time this season, following his confirmation that he is to stay at Spurs this summer. He captained the side and made an instant impact, scoring a brace in the first 34 minutes. Lo Celso’s 70th-minute freekick wrapped up the victory as we overturned our 1-0 first-leg deficit to reach the group stage.
With Kane's transfer saga finished, for now, Nuno will be fully focused on what could prove to be a challenging run of fixtures over the next couple of months, with league games against our London rivals Chelsea, Arsenal and West Ham United, as well as a clash against Manchester United.
Firstly though, we must face newly-promoted Watford this weekend, a side who we have lost to just once in our last 16 league meetings, going down 2-1 at Vicarage Road in September 2018. We have an impressive record against newly promoted teams, suffering defeat in just one of our last 27 home league games, with that loss coming against Nuno's Wolves side in December 2018. Claiming all three points on Sunday will see Nuno become just the second of our managers in the club's history to win each of his first three league games in charge, after Arthur Rowe did so back in August 1949.
Watford began life back in the top flight with an impressive 3-2 victory against Aston Villa on the opening weekend, though they were quickly brought back down to earth when they suffered a 2-0 away defeat at Brighton & Hove Albion last Saturday. Watford did, however, bounce back from their defeat on the South Coast with a narrow 1-0 League Cup victory over Crystal Palace on Tuesday, with Ashley Fletcher’s 86th-minute winner rewarding the Hornets with a third-round tie against Championship outfit Stoke City next month. After conceding four goals in their first two games, the Hornets boss was pleased that his side kept a clean sheet in midweek and showed signs of improvement defensively.
Improvements away from home are now required for Watford if they are to stay clear of the relegation zone this season. The Hornets have lost each of their last seven Premier League away games, failing to score on five occasions during this run. Watford also have a poor record away to us despite winning their first three away league matches against us between 1982 and 1985, the Hornets have since lost nine of their last 10 league visits.
They did, however, come close to ending this run when they last visited us as Dele scored a late equaliser to rescue a 1-1 draw for the hosts in October 2019. Watford impressed on this occasion and Munoz will need a similar performance from his side if they are to have any chance of success on Sunday. After Kane starred for 73 minutes on Thursday night, the 28-year-old is in line to make his first start in the Premier League this weekend, with Bergwijn set to drop out from the side that faced Wolves.
Team News
Son and Moura are expected to join Kane in a three-man attack, while Dele could keep his place in an advanced midfield role, playing just in front of Skipp and Hojbjerg.
Lloris, Reguilon and Tanganga are all set to return to the starting lineup after being rested in midweek, while Romero will be hoping he can start his first league game for Spurs ahead of either Sanchez or Dier.
Rodon and Carter-Vickers will both be absent due to injuries, while Ndombele will not be involved in the squad amid speculation surrounding his future.
As for Watford, midfielders Kucka (leg injury) and Chalobah (illness) will both be assessed ahead of the trip to North London, while forward Pedro is ruled out as he continues to recover from a knee injury.
Munoz made seven changes in Tuesday's win over Crystal Palace and is set to revert back to the side that played away at Brighton last week.
The Hornets boss praised Danny Rose for his work ethics after the left-back made his debut in midweek, and the former Spurs defender could therefore be in line to start ahead of Masina.
Cleverley could return to the centre of midfield and start alongside summer signings Louza and Etebo, while new recruit Sissoko – who has joined from us - is not expected to make his debut on Sunday.
Star man Sarr is also set to return after being rested on Tuesday and the winger will likely join Sema and Dennis up front.
Head to Head
We first played each other on Saturday 7th January 1939 – an FA cup tie where we won 7-1.
We have met each other competitively a total of 36 times with us winning 22, they won 7 and 7 were drawn.
26 times in the League where we won 14, they won 6 and 6 were drawn.
5 times in the League Cup where we won 3, they won 1and 1 drawn
5 times in the FA cup where we have won all 5.
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