Ighalo on target again as Watford suffer defeat to Tottenham

Nigerian striker Odion Ighalo once again scored in the Barclays Premier League as the top-flight in England reached the halfway mark this term.

The forward’s first half goal was, however, insufficient to help the Hornets escape a 1-2 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur on Monday.

The goal represented Ighalo’s sixth successive goal in six league matches.

Erik Lamela gave Spurs the lead on 17 minutes in which Watford’s main man, Ighalo, enjoyed little joy with the duo of Dier and Jan Vertonghen.

Ighalo’s first sight at goal came in the 27th minute when Nathan Ake curled in a cross which the ex-Udinese man could only hit off target by five yards on the turn.

Spurs defending trio of Dier, Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld continued to make life difficult for Ighalo and his strike partner, Troy Deeney.

Four minutes to the break, Deeney and Ighalo combined for the goal through their physical styles.

Deeney provided the assist with an improvised header while Ighalo held off Dier well to pick his pocket and then rode on good fortune to roll the ball beneath Spurs’ goalkeeper Hugo Lloris to level the game and make it evenly poised for the restart.

On 65 minutes, Ighalo got booked for dissent after he felt a decision should have gone in his favour rather than to Spurs midfielder Thomas Carroll.

Watford had to paddle through the last 27 minutes after Ake was sent off for a bad foul on Keiran Trippier.

Ighalo has now scored 14 goals in 18 league appearances for Watford, who occupy seventh place in the BPL table.