EPL: Tottenham 2-0 Watford

Harry Kane celebrates his goal in Tottenham's 2-0 win against Watford

Harry Kane scored in Tottenham's routine 2-0 win over Watford to reopen their five-point cushion over Chelsea in the race for a top-four finish.

Dele Alli's fourth Premier League goal in his last five games gave Spurs the perfect start at Wembley, pouncing on a mistake from Orestis Karnezis to finish from Christian Eriksen's pass (16).

Mauricio Pochettino's side were flat in the first half, but it took just three minutes into the second period for Kane to tuck in Kieran Trippier's cross and take his tally to 38 goals for the season.

 

Spurs are now a point behind third-placed Liverpool with a game in hand while 13th-placed Watford are six points clear of the relegation zone but still not mathematically assured of safety.

 

In a game which saw the two clubs join forces to back Sky's Ocean Rescue campaign, a goalkeeping error gifted the hosts the advantage.

 

Karnezis spilled Trippier's cross, presenting the ball straight to Eriksen, whose first-time ball found Alli for a simple tap-in after 16 minutes to ease any nerves among the subdued home supporters.

It means Spurs have scored in 23 successive league games - their best run since the late 80s - but Javi Gracia's side had a golden chance to level 10 minutes later.

 

A slack pass from Eric Dier allowed Etienne Capoue to release Andre Gray, but Watford's £18.5m record signing was unable to beat Hugo Lloris with his snap-shot low down to the keeper's right.

It was the type of chance Watford had to take on a night when Spurs dominated, and Heung-Min Son was then unfortunate not to win a penalty when going down under a challenge from Abdoulaye Doucoure.

Spurs continued to present chances to their opponents as a delightful touch from Will Hughes found Doucoure on the left of the Tottenham penalty area, but having cut back inside, the pair got in each other's way as Lloris gathered Doucoure's shot at the second attempt.

 

Watford continued to show their attacking intent on the stroke of half-time as Lloris was forced into a save from Richarlison's drive, but Spurs emerged for the second period with greater urgency and duly doubled their lead.

Kane initially slipped from Son's cross, but he got back up to his feet to convert Trippier's low ball to score his 27th league goal of the campaign, four behind Mohamed Salah in his quest for the Premier League Golden Boot.

Jan Vertonghen came within inches of stretching their lead when his header from Trippier's free-kick struck a post, before Richarlison blazed over from Troy Deeney's knock-down with 20 minutes remaining.