Mauricio Pochettino has been championing Tottenham’s case for inclusion as genuine title contenders for some time now and the manner in which they snatched a vital win over 10-man Watford will only reinforce that belief.

Son Heung-min’s 89th-minute winner, flicking the ball past Heurelho Gomes from close range, moved them up to within three points of the summit before the evening kick-offs and sent a clear message to the other teams looking to take control of a brilliant but baffling title race.

Spurs led through Erik Lamela’s 17th-minute effort but were pegged back by yet another Odion Ighalo strike, and almost failed to make the advantage in personnel count after Nathan Aké was dismissed with 62 minutes played for a poor challenge on Lamela. Son, though, earned the points and inflicted a first defeat in six on Watford.