Harry Kane may not have seen the funny side of all the jokes aimed at him in recent weeks, but the striker put a smile back on the faces of his Tottenham Hotspur fans.
Kane’s second-half goal made sure of a victory over Watford that keeps Spurs on course to clinch Champions League qualification and ended a wobble that had seen them fail to win in three games.
The England international may still be feeling his way back to his best, but he provided the perfect response to those who jumped at the chance to poke fun at him after claiming a goal from team-mate Christian Eriksen and failing to score against Manchester United in the FA Cup semi-final.
The self-appointed clowns at the Football Association and Professional Footballers’ Association need to find a new target for their attempts at humour.
Dele Alli had given Tottenham the lead thanks to a terrible error from Orestis Karnezis, but the home side were second best until Kane hit his 27th Premier League goal to stay in touch with Mohamed Salah in the race for the golden boot.
“He needs to improve his performance still, but I’m happy,” said Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino. “150 Premier League games, 105 goals. What more can we say? Fantastic striker.”
Asked whether Kane is still recovering from his ankle injury, Pochettino replied: “It’s a mix of different things. It wasn’t a great period for him. He’s human like anyone and a little bit affected, but with help of everyone he’s doing well. He’s a strong guy, physically and mentally. I am sure he will perform for us and no doubt arrive in good condition for the World Cup.”
Kane added: “I try to improve every year. Last year I got 29, so I would like to try to beat that. Last year was an unbelievable end, but we will see what happens. In my mind now I’m just trying to get to the 30 mark.”
The win means Pochettino’s men are five points ahead of fifth-placed Chelsea and are just one behind Liverpool with a game in hand. It also leaves Watford, who have not scored away from home since January 2, still not sure of their Premier League safety.
Pochettino said: “It wasn’t a great performance, but the most important thing is we are in a good position with three games ahead and it will be a very successful season if we finish in the top four.”
Tottenham looked like a team in need of a helping hand during the opening exchanges and they duly got it in the 16th minute.
Kieran Trippier’s cross should have been easy for Karnezis, but the Watford keeper spilt the ball, Christian Eriksen toed it into the path of Alli, who produced a composed finish.
Andre Gray was given his first Watford start since the FA Cup defeat to Southampton in January and the club’s record signing squandered a great chance to equalise.
Eric Dier played a careless pass to former Spurs midfielder Etienne Capoue, who sent Gray through on goal. The striker, though, was denied by goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.
This was the first of Tottenham’s final three games scheduled at their temporary Wembley home and there were plenty of empty seats. It was not a picture Shahid Khan will be selling to the NFL if he is successful in buying the stadium.
Despite sharing it with the likes of Eriksen and Mousa Dembele, Will Hughes was the most creative player on the pitch during the first half. He sent Abdoulaye Doucoure through and Lloris had to charge from his goal to tackle the 25-year-old and rescue the home team.
That intervention had come just moments after the Frenchman had saved well from Richarlison.
Keen to silence the jesters, Kane only had an early shot to show for his efforts during the opening period and the home crowd breathed a sigh of relief when referee Michael Oliver signalled half-time.
But it took just three minutes of the second half for Kane and Spurs to wake up and get back on track.
Trippier, who had been Tottenham’s most effective player down the right, put the ball on a plate for Kane, to side-foot a shot into the net and celebrate with his team-mates.
Watford manager Javi Gracia made a double change shortly after the hour mark: Troy Deeney replaced Gray and Gerard Deulofeu took over from Kiko Femenia.
But it was Tottenham who went close to adding to their advantage as Jan Vertonghen headed another Trippier delivery against the post.
A disallowed goal gave the travelling Watford fans the chance to have some fun at Kane’s expense, but he will not have cared this time.
Kane will still believe he can get the last laugh over Salah and Tottenham can now concentrate on trying to overtake Liverpool, rather than looking over their shoulders.
Full time: Tottenham Hotspur 2 Watford 0
Not a classic. But England fans will be pleased to note that Harry Kane got a goal, which makes three in five matches as he puts fitness problems and a drought behind him. Trippier was excellent, lots of dangerous crosses and energy. Enough flashes of quality from the likes of Eriksen, Alli and Son ensured Spurs were never really off the bridle, but they were also quite sloppy at times. A less insipid team that Watford might have hurt them. All in all, an end-of-season affair, but Spurs consolidate their hold on fourth, while Watford, well, whatever. 13th or something, who cares about them. Match report coming up.
90+ mins
Good attack from Deulofeu and Carrillo, they look a cut above most of the Watford players who, erm, started the game. Fierce shot at Lloris from close range, narrow angle, beaten out. After a frankly excessive six minutes injury time, the ref has had enough, and so have most in the stadium.
80 mins
Anyway. Richarlison seems okay. Will Hughes is coming off. Moussa Sissoko replaced Son Heung-Min.
This last round or two of Premier League matches feels like being at school in the summer term when you have finished your GCSEs or A-Levels but haven't officially broken up yet. Just very low stakes.
73 mins
Both teams have the ball in the net. And both teams are offside.
Gerard Deulofeu runs onto a ball from Christian Kabasele. Rounds the keeper, puts it away.... but he was off
And then, Vertonghen suddenly pops up in the number ten position (!?) and produces a piece of control that would not shame Ronaldinho in his toothy, soul-glo pomp. He slides it to Kane, who slams it home, but HK was offside.
GOAL! Spurs 2 Watford 0 (Kane 49)
Good finish from Kane, good goal for Spurs, good news for England.
Alli with a ball down the inside left channel. Son onto it, telepathic cross for Kane... who slips over.
The ball runs to Trippier on the right. He crosses. Kane has got back to his feet and slots it neatly home.
Beggars belief that Watford could not mark Kane there. I mean, he is quite a well-known goal threat, no?
Half time: Tottenham 1 Watford 0
Spurs very happy to hear that whistle. Watford with some useful attacking play there, Lloris has certainly earned his match fee.
His opposite number, Karnezis, I am sorry to say, has not. He handed Spurs the first goal on a silver dish.
Both sides a little sloppy tonight in a low-impact affair. We've hardly had a tackle in anger.
GOAL! Tottenham Hotspur 1 Watford 0 (Alli 16)
Trippier plays the ball into the box. Keeper comes out and makes a total pig's ear of a regulation gather. Hopeless bit of goalkeeping, just spills the ball right into the path of Eriksen. He hooks it over to Dele Alli, who has the simplest chance imaginable for the opening goal. Wet lettuce stuff.
and Spurs are soon cashing in
Real amateur hour stuff from Orestis Karnezis. I recall him spilling a cross against West Ham in Feb that also led to a goal.
Teams
Tottenham Hotspur: Lloris, Trippier, Sanchez, Vertonghen, Davies, Dier, Dembele, Eriksen, Alli, Son, Kane. Subs: Alderweireld, Lamela, Wanyama, Vorm, Sissoko, Aurier, Lucas Moura.
Watford: Karnezis, Cathcart, Kabasele, Mariappa, Holebas, Capoue, Doucoure, Femenia, Hughes, Richarlison, Gray. Subs: Gomes, Janmaat, Britos, Deulofeu, Deeney, Sinclair, Carrillo.
Referee: Michael Oliver (Northumberland)
An email arrives
and it is from Shane O'Leary. He says:
Just a couple of things;
Agree on the potential tragedy of losing matchday programmes, hilarious and heartwarming social documents that they are. I have four old ones, including a 1969 Palace V Liverpool one, it had grown, non-Palace and non-Liverpool fans fighting to read it in the pub.
And come on Watford.
Because I am a COOL GUY I like to make notes in all the matchday programmes I buy and give players marks out of ten. Must have done hundreds. Some lost, some treasured. I particularly like the deathless prose of a CAPTAIN'S CORNER.
Will you miss programmes? Email alan.tyers@telegraph.co.uk should you wish to discuss
Yes! It's football
Phew! For a minute there, it was looking like we might have to find something else to do on a wretched and rainy Monday. But that panic is now over, an association football match is just 85 minutes away, and it will be contested by the brave men and true of Watford, and the proud sons of Tottenham Hotspur. The match will be played at White Elephant HQ, or Wembley as some others like to call it, and the team news will be with us by 7, I shouldn't wonder.
Meanwhile, Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino believes his side are becoming victims of their own success.
Pochettino has masterminded a climb towards the top of the English game without the resources of Manchester City, Manchester United or Chelsea and has done so using young players, adopting an attractive style of football.
But the pressure to back that up with trophies is beginning to rise and Spurs were heavily criticised after their latest disappointment last week when they fell to an eighth successive FA Cup semi-final defeat.
Pochettino has not wavered off-message, that Spurs need more time, and says their approach will not change.
"The most important thing now is that project we need to keep pushing," he said.
"And, of course, we are frustrated about bad results. But we cannot change because the club cannot change.
"It cannot go, 'Okay that is the project in Tottenham and now we are going to do the same that Manchester United are doing now'. That is not a point to discuss.
"Tottenham needed when we arrived here to have a clear idea about discipline, rules, principles, a project to develop, to use young players, and that was how we created this project all together.
"Whether it is me or another, that is the right project to keep pushing, don't be disappointed if we still don't win a trophy, the expectation always is massive.
"We are victims of our own success because we are ahead in our project. I remind you that in my first meeting with (chairman) Daniel Levy and (owner) Joe Lewis, the target was to arrive in the new stadium in four years and to create a team to have the possibility to fight for the top four and the second year to play Champions League. We are victims of our success.
"I tried to explain this season, it's not easy to accept to be close, nearly to touch and be disappointed. Again and disappointed, but that is normal. The easy thing to do is give up and say we need to change everything and blame this and that.
"No, keep going, pushing hard and with all the energy try again. That is the realistic project for Tottenham and it's fantastic because we are different and we need to keep going."
Pochettino raised eyebrows in the wake of the cup defeat to Manchester United by saying the project at Spurs will go on "with me or another".
The Argentinian still has three years to run on his contract and was coy about whether a new deal is in the offing.
"Am I going to sign? It's a question for Daniel," he added.
"I am not (Arsene) Wenger or (Sir Alex) Ferguson who decides about their own future. I decide only about the starting XI in this football club. That is up to Daniel, does he want to offer or not?
"I am a person who is never going to ask to improve my salary or extend my contract or anything like this."
Tottenham could go a long way to booking a third successive season of Champions League football when they host Watford.
Danny Rose will be assessed but Harry Winks is out.