Watford – Tottenham Hotspur

Good evening all and welcome to our live commentary of Watford v Tottenham in the 4th round of the FA Cup. Tonight's game is LIVE ON ESPN.

Watford starting XI: Loach, Hodson, Mariappa, Nosworthy, Doyley, Eustace, Deeney, Buaben, Murray, Sordell, Garner // Subs: Bond, Dickinson, Yeates, Iwelumo, Forsyth, Jenkins, Whichelow

Tottenham starting XI: Cudicini, Walker, Kaboul, Dawson, Rose, Parker, Van der Vaart, Modric, Livermore, Adebayor, Defoe // Subs: Friedel, Lennon, Pavlyuchenko, Bassong, Kranjcar, Assou-Ekotto, Pienaar

Gareth Bale is out tonight with a thigh strain apparently - picked up in training this week.

One to watch for Watford is striker Marvin Sordell. The England Under-21 international is their top scorer this season.

And we're away at Vicarage Road! Watford in their traditional yellow shirts, Spurs in their traditional white.

Neat interplay from Spurs as they approach the Watford goal, but Adebayor is caught in possession.

Spurs enjoying the early possession. Defoe, Adebayor and Van der Vaart getting plenty of touches.

Watford can't get near to the ball at the moment. Spurs look very confident indeed.

Finally Watford break. Sordell cuts inside, but his weak shot doesn't trouble Cudicini.

Better from Watford. Murray with a shot on the angle and Cudicini can only parry. Sordell quick to pounce, but Spurs scramble clear through Dawson.

Watford gaining in confidence as the match goes on here.

Slick surface at Vicarage Road tonight. We've already seen a couple of Spurs players slip over.

Livermore with a cross into the Watford box. Headed clear comfortably by the home side.

Adebayor tries to slide a pass into Defoe, but he can't find the angle.

Strangely low-key atmosphere at Vicarage Road so far. This game needs an early goal.

Adebayor gives up possession yet again on Spurs' right. Sloppy from him so far.

Great ball in from Deeney. Sordell beats Cudicini to the near post, but his stabbed effort is wide.

Buaben goes for gold from 25 yards...not far wide. Great effort.

After a cracking start, Spurs have gone a little flat. Watford are arguably on top at the moment.

Walker runs at the Watford defence, but he can't stop himself going over the byline.

Van der Vaart tries a diagonal pass to Defoe, 40 yards away on the opposite flank, but it's just too strong for the England striker.

Hodson's cross from the right is too strong, and goes out for a throw-in.

The balance has shifted back to Spurs now, who appear to have rediscovered their passing game.

Hodson tries his luck from 25 yards, but his volleyed effort dribbles wide.

Deeney with a lovely angled ball into the box, but Garner misses his kick from 10 yards. Should have hit the target there.

Livermore penalised for a foul on Garner. Watford have a free-kick on the corner of Spurs' box.

Murray's ball in is headed away by Parker at the far post.

If ever a game could really use a goal. This was it.

Van der Vaart with a lay-off to Defoe on the edge of the box, but he can only manage a weak finish into the hands of Loach.

Rose brought down on the left edge of the Watford box. Free-kick to Spurs.

Spurs waste the free-kick, and Watford clear comfortably.

Sordell runs at Dawson, but the Spurs defender keeps his concentration and blocks the shot.

Nice move from Watford, and it leads to a shooting chance for Buaben...five yards wide.

Rather flat atmosphere at Vicarage Road so far.

Watford come forward on the break and look for a corner. Goal-kick.

Spurs have had 64 percent of possession so far, but they're yet to create a meaningful opening.

Van der Vaart tries to up the tempo in midfield, playing a couple of one-twos to force Spurs forward.

Modric with a woeful attempt to find a team-mate on the opposite flank. Straight out for a goal-kick.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL</b> Great break from Walker, and Van der Vaart takes possession to fire a low shot past Loach from 20 yards. Shocker from the Watford keeper. Spurs lead!

Van der Vaart's shot somehow bounced over Loach's dive.

"One shot, they've only had one shot," sing the Watford fans. They've got a point.

Halftime at Vicarage Road and Spurs go in with a 1-0 lead, courtesy of Van der Vaart's soft goal.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> And we're away with the second half. Spurs have a change to report - Lennon replacing Modric.

Buaben blazes one over the bar from 20 yards.

Sordell puts Dawson under pressure, and the Spurs defender concedes a corner.

Eustace pulls away from his man and drives a left-footed shot just over the bar. Good effort.

So close to the equaliser! Murray's placed finish is tipped onto the post by Cudicini.

Van der Vaart lines up a free-kick from 25 yards. The ball takes a wobble on his run-up and he bends a shot wide.

Walker up at the far post for Spurs, and his header is tipped over the bar by Loach.

Walker runs at the Watford defence, but he ends up beating himself.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/images/2012/0127/rafaelvandervaartcelebvwatford_275x155.jpg"> <br>Rafael van der Vaart celebrates his goal against Watford

Rose flashes a shot across the goal from wide on the left.

Lennon into Adebayor on the edge of the box. His casual flick concedes possesion.

Adebayor really is having a shocker. He gives the ball away yet again.

Van der Vaart tries to find Defoe, but his pass is cut out on the edge of the box.

Sordell tries to play a ball through for Watford, but Spurs scramble clear.

Good spell this for the home side.

Lennon pulls the ball back to Van der Vaart, who crashes a sidefooted shot against the bar from 10 yards.

Cudicini does well under a high ball from the Watford left.

Sordell tries to cross from the right and wins Watford a corner.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Mark Yeates replaces Murray for the home side.

Deeney fizzes a shot wide from the edge of the box. Watford are not giving this one up.

Eustace up at the far post, and his header hits the post!

Livermore gets in the way of Sordell, and Spurs break forward.

Spurs hack clear after Sordell is brought down by Livermore. The referee waves appeals away for a free-kick.

Buaben's shot from 20 yards isn't powerful enough to trouble Cudicini.

Watford's Garner with one of the wildest shots you're likely to see. New ball please.

Lovely stuff from Sordell, who creates space to send over a cross and win a corner. He's had a fine game for Watford.

On the balance of play, Watford deserve to be level in this match. They've been the better side in the second half.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/images/2012/0127/scottparkergrappleswithjohneustace_275x155.jpg"> <br>Scott Parker of Spurs grapples with John Eustace of Watford

So close again for Watford! Nosworthy's shot from six yards is saved by the feet of Cudicini. Sordell's follow-up is blocked.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Whichelow replaces Garner for Watford. Defoe off for Pienaar for Spurs.

Another chance for Watford! Yeates' on-target effort hits Dawson in the face.

Deeney gets forward on the right, but his cross is poor.

Watford are still in the ascendancy. But all the while they press, a breakaway from Spurs is a possibility.

The home crowd are urging Watford forward now.

Lennon to Van der Vaart, whose lay-off invites Parker to shoot. Good save from Loach.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Hodson picks up the first yellow of the night for a foul on Lennon.

They'll be three extra minutes.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Adebayor is replaced by Pavlyuchenko for Spurs.

Yeates goes for glory from 30 yards with a free-kick. Easily saved by Cudicini.

And that's your lot folks. Spurs progress to the last 16 of the FA Cup courtesy of Van der Vaart's winner. Watford can take heart from pushing them all the way, and will are unlucky not to have earned at least a replay. Thanks for joining me!