Tottenham Hotspur Paper View (h)

Smith's howler lets lacklustre Spurs off the hook

The good folk of Vicarage Road are still at that exciting stage of their new life in the top division where they cheer the winning of corners, or even throws. Just as well, since the winning of matches continues to elude them, though they are rapidly establishing themselves as the Premiership's draw champions, six of them now in 10 games.

However, they could and should have done better against a lacklustre Tottenham so devoid of urgency, commitment and, it appeared at times, interest that their manager, Martin Jol, admitted the only positive achievement of his team had been to keep a clean sheet. "We could have nicked it, but I can't say we deserved to win," he said.

Jol was spot on there. Heaven knows what Keith Burkinshaw made of it. The best Tottenham manager since Bill Nicholson, the 71-year-old is now assistant at Watford, and he was on the side of the better, if not better quality, club yesterday.

For the ever-ebullient Adrian Boothroyd it was "a solid performance." He went on, "We are becoming a difficult team to beat, and that's the prerequisite of being a good side. It is another point, another claw up the table." Sunday Independent

Watford get closer but Young cruelly denied

Aidy Boothroyd says Watford were denied their first league win of the season by a controversial offside ruling against Ashley Young's late first-half strike.

Boothroyd's enduring confidence in his team is commonly dismissed with a shrug, even a sneer, but on their performance here it is easy to see why the young manager is so fired up. Discounting the play-offs, Watford, the draw specialists, have not won a league fixture since beating QPR in April, but surely it cannot be long now before it happens.

Tottenham, in the ascendancy following two wins in their past three Premiership games, came here searching for their first away win in the league. With the return of their two first-choice strikers, Robbie Keane and Dimitar Berbatov, a goal or two could have been expected.

Similarly, Watford struggled with an embarrassment of chances. In the opening minutes the home side won three corners in quick succession, but failed to convert. It was to prove an irritating tic. Tommy Smith's excellent early opportunity was preceded by quality passing in the box and Watford created a good six openings against an unusually porous Tottenham defence, Smith in particular showing up a jittery Benoit Assou-Ekotto.

Then, just before half time, Young received a long pass from Hameur Bouazza and sped through to finish past Paul Robinson. The flag went up, but Boothroyd was adamant: 'I've seen it on the [TV] monitor and it was a goal,' he said. Sunday Observer

Watford lack clinical edge

ADRIAN BOOTHROYD NUMBERS Sir Winston Churchill among his inspirations and how the Watford manager might wish he had attacking tools to do his job at Vicarage Road. This initially felt as if it was to be Watford's finest hour of the campaign so far, but not for the first time they showed too much mercy in front of goal against Tottenham Hotspur.

Watford are not the first promoted team to find out that a combination of blood, sweat and spirit is not enough to cut it in the Barclays Premiership, but if the relegation of six years ago is not to be repeated, they must turn a combative bombardment into successful strikes. And that means finding another forward in the January transfer window because — with last year's leading scorer, Marlon King, ruled out by a knee injury — Darius Henderson is no Biggles, and Tommy Smith little better.

Watford are closing in on Sheffield United's record of 16 matches without a win from the start of a season in the top flight. The history books also show United, led by Vinnie Jones, finished thirteenth in that 1990-91 season. And things are not yet close to the desperation stage where Boothroyd might feel compelled to play Jay DeMerit's song Soccer Rocks, a tribute to their promotion last season, in the dressing- room. Sunday Times

Watford cling to faith in lieu of luck and goals

Watford will win a Premiership match sooner rather than later. Their manager doggedly believes it, their faithful sing-along fans believe it, all they have got to do now is convince the fates. A wrongly-disallowed goal, a wasted chance that was easier to take than miss, another tale of broken hearts and unrequited romance. Elton John could have written an album about Watford's season so far.

The harsh reality is that Tottenham could have written their own ending if all the artful dodging of Aaron Lennon had been matched by a ruthlessness in front of goal, but Watford deserved their sixth draw from 10 games and their unwavering conviction that all their huff and puff will blow somebody's door down before too long.

A video referee would have reversed the decision to disallow Ashley Young's strike for off-side just before the interval. A Christmas bloopers video would be the best place for Tommy Smith's earlier miss from three yards. Watford are compiling a collection. Darius Henderson fluffed simple chances against Charlton and Manchester United. They played their best football of the season in the first half against Spurs but they have held a lead in only two games so far. Sunday Telegraph