Heung-Min Son strikes late as Spurs edge out Watford to go joint third

Heung-Min Son came off the bench to score an audacious last-minute winner as Tottenham edged out ten-man Watford to go above Manchester City and strengthen their claim for a Champions League place.

After Newcastle ended Tottenham’s 14-game unbeaten run earlier this month, Spurs have responded with three straight wins, but this was the least convincing of them all as they laboured for long periods against a committed Watford side.

Spurs, who rested Kyle Walker and Christian Eriksen, took the lead through Erik Lamela’s deft finish. The Argentine burst forward after Craig Cathcart’s error and finished deftly into the bottom corner to score his fourth goal in five games.

Watford levelled before the break when Odion Ighalo’s perseverance got him away from Eric Dier and the striker poked the ball under Hugo Lloris after the goalkeeper hesitated.

The Hornets lost Nathan Ake to a straight red card for a rash challenge on Lamela, but the ten men looked the more likely winners when a very close goal-line technology call denied Ben Watson a goal direct from a corner – with Lloris scooping the ball away with a centimetre to spare.

Seconds later Spurs grabbed the winner through the lively substitute Son, whose extravagant flick from Kieran Trippier’s cross nutmegged former Spurs keeper Heurelho Gomes as Spurs celebrated wildly in front of their travelling fans.

17’ GOAL! Watford 0-1 Tottenham: Alli wins the ball in midfield for Spurs and it reaches Lamela, who drives forward and cheekily rolls his shot into the bottom corner. Nice finish.

19’ CHANCE! Lamela has another chance! Kane does well to hold off his man and find Lamela, who tries to score first time when he could have taken a touch and found Trippier, who had made a good run forward.

41’ GOAL! Watford 1-1 Tottenham: Ighalo scores again for Watford! Deeney wins the ball in the air and it drops to Ighalo, whose quick turn gets him away from Dier and he pokes it under Lloris from close range.

50’ CHANCE! Kane leads the counter for Spurs, he rolls it to his right to Lamela, whose low cross is cut out. That could have been so much more for Spurs.

56’ CHANCE! Eriksen lifts the ball over the top for Kane, who resists the urge to smash it first time on the volley. Instead he lets it bounce but fails to get hold of his shot and Gomes saves comfortably.

89’ OVER THE LINE? Watson almost scores direct from a corner, but Lloris claws it out! That was centimetres from going over the line!

90’ GOAL! Watford 1-2 Tottenham: Son scores! Scenes, incredible scenes! Trippier's cross is flicked in sublimely through the legs of Gomes by Son, and Spurs have surely won it at the death!

90’+2 WHAT A BLOCK! Dier produces a magnificent block to deny Deeney, who looked odds on to score from close range! What a finish.

Erik Lamela has scored four goals in his last five games in all competitions for Tottenham.

Tottenham have the best goal difference in the Premier League this season of +18.

Odion Ighalo has scored more league goals in 2015 than any other player in England’s top four tiers

Are Spurs top-four material? Well, they're no longer quietly rising up the table, that's for sure. they don't concede many goals, Harry Kane is on form and even Christian Eriksen can't get into the team. With the traditional big-hitters of Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool floundering, Tottenham won't have a better chance to establish themselves as a top-four force.

Erik Lamela (Tottenham) - Gets better and better and is finally beginning to pay off the big price tag. Took his goal with supreme confidence and worked tirelessly throughout to fulfil his defensive duties - and that will please Mauricio Pochettino more than anything.

Watford: Gomes 7, Anya 6, Cathcart 5, Britos 5, Ake 4, Capoue 5, Watson 7, Abdi 6, Deeney 8, Jurado 6, Ighalo 7. Subs: Nyom 6, Prödl 6, Behrami 6.

Tottenham: Lloris 7, Trippier 7, Alderweireld 7, Vertonghen 7, Rose 5, Dier 7, Dembele 5, Lamela 8, Carroll 6, Alli 7, Kane 8. Subs: Eriksen 6, Chadli n/a, Son 7.