Strikes in the final 10 minutes from Son Heung-min and Fernando Llorente cancelled out Craig Cathcart's first-half goal and earned Spurs a crucial win at the end of a week in which they were knocked out of two cup competitions.

Son Heung-min celebrates with Fernando Llorente after scoring Tottenham Hotspur's equalising goal against Watford in the Premier League on January 30, 2019. © Reuters

A first victory in three home Premier League games lifted Spurs to within two points of Manchester City in second, and seven clear of fifth-place Chelsea who were on the end of a 4-0 thumping from Bournemouth.

Son's early return from the Asian Cup was a welcome boost for Spurs, who were again without the injured Harry Kane and Dele Alli, and the South Korean came close to opening the scoring on 10 minutes.

A skilful spin away from Tom Cleverley created room for Son, who scored seven goals in nine appearances prior to flying off on international duty, to bend a left-footed curler just wide of the post from 22 yards.

Tottenham Hotspur's Son-Heung min attempts to dribble away from Watford's Craig Cathcart in the Premier League on January 30, 2019. © Reuters

The hosts began to get on top after quarter of an hour, and Christian Eriksen worked room for a shot from the edge of the box, with a deflection via Cathcart forcing Ben Foster to scramble across his line to make the save.

Watford had a couple of shots from distance as Daryl Janmaat blazed over and Gerard Deulofeu fired just the wrong side of the post, but they did not pose much of a threat until they struck against the run of play.

Hugo Lloris came off his line to collect Jose Holebas's delivery and was left stranded as a combination of Davinson Sanchez and Cathcart, also a scorer in September's reverse fixture, bundled the ball over the line on 38 minutes.

Watford's Craig Cathcart celebrates scoring the opening goal against Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League on January 30, 2019. © Reuters

Mauricio Pochettino introduced Lucas Moura at half time and his ball-carrying ability immediately made Spurs more dynamic in the second period, but they initially lacked the finishing to match their more potent build-up play.

Llorente missed a couple of golden opportunities from inside the six-yard box, firstly failing to keep a volley down with Foster stranded and then heading wide after the Watford goalkeeper had saved low at his near post from Toby Alderweireld.

The Hornets were defending stubbornly and a goal-line clearance from Ben Wilmot retained their lead on 68 minutes, the substitute taking up a crucial position to thwart Danny Rose whose shot from Lucas's pass was destined for the net.

The second half was mostly one-way traffic but Watford did have a couple of chances to kill the game off, Troy Deeney firing into the side-netting from a tight angle, and Isaac Success sweeping wide on the half-volley from his captain's knockdown.

Tottenham's pressure eventually told when Llorente made a nuisance of himself in the box to tee up Son to thrash home from the penalty spot, and what appeared like it would be a night to forget for the Spaniard soon turned into one to remember.

Tottenham Hotspur's Fernando Llorente heads the winning goal against Watford in the Premier League on January 30, 2019. © Reuters

Rose stood up an 87th-minute cross which Llorente met with a well-directed header, climbing above Holebas and powering the ball back across Foster and inside the post, for his second goal in three starts since standing in for the injured Kane.

It was the second time in successive Premier League games that Spurs had struck a late winner, showing that they have the character to sutain their top-four push despite recent setbacks on and off the pitch.

SPURS (5-3-2): Lloris; Aurier (Lucas 46'), Alderweireld, Sanchez, Vertonghen (Lamela 79'), Rose; Winks, Sissoko (Trippier 69'), Eriksen; Son, Llorente

WATFORD (4-4-1-1): Foster; Holebas, Mariappa, Cathcart, Janmaat; Pererya, Capoue, Cleverley (Wilmot 66'), Hughes; Deulofeu (Success 61'); Deeney