Watford Dismiss Tottenham, Still Perfect on the Season

What do you get when you match a crafty back against a big brand's perpetually challenged defense?

Watford over Tottenham, 2-1.

Don't look now -- and join the crowd on that -- but former Greek international José Holebas happens to be tied with Manchester City left back Benjamin Mendy as the Premiership's assist leaders. Dude added two helpers against Spurs to gain the surprising distinction.

Speaking of, the Hornets have also gained the distinction of being tied at the table's top after the first month of action:

 

Most fans recall that this is Sir Elton John's side and has been since he was just a little nubbin named Reggie Dwight from Watford.

Up until the mid-1970s, the Hornets were just -- as they say in hockey -- another buncha dudes named Moe, serving as lower-division fodder. Then, when their most famous supporter bought the club and hired Graham Taylor, the club took Route 1 to the top for the first time in their history.

 

Heady times, those.

Here in the present, it's the unheralded Javi García assembling a squad of determined dudes short on name recognition but well aware of the ways, and Holebas could be their poster boy.

Tottenham were well and truly out-thought and out-maneuvered by that grizzled crew, even though most of the possession was theirs. Watford's defense flexed and bent in manners that forced Spurs to dead ends.

 

Watford's re-direction strategy came back to haunt them in the 53rd minute.

That's when Lucas Moura fired hard, and Abdoulaye Doucouré ended up sending a header into his own goal:

Still, despite the error, Watford was undeterred.

In the 69th minute, their fans celebrated the equalizer. Holebas’ free kick went straight to Troy Deeney’s head, and Dutch 'keeper Michel Vorm could only watch while the ball entered in the left corner:

The winning goal came in the 76th minute, when another Hornet foray made it to the box, this time, from an exquisite Holebas corner.

Craig Cathcart rose higher than Tottenham’s defenders to meet and redirect it for the ultimate winner:

Mauricio Pochettino has to wonder if there's something in the North London water. Dude's an accomplished manager, as is Arsenal's Unai Emery.

And yet, both have had fits trying to instill basic defensive fundamentals in their glamorous squads.

Maybe it's time to have a few pints with García.