Tactical fouls have helped Tottenham's defensive resurgence, says former Arsenal centre-back Martin Keown

Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown has hailed Tottenham’s intelligent defence ahead of the title challengers’ home clash with Watford.

Mauricio Pochettino’s men have conceded just 19 goals in 24 top flight matches this season, the fewest in the Premier League, and have not conceded more than twice in any fixture this season.

Their formidable defence has helped propel third-placed Spurs firmly into the mix at the top of the table, they currently sit two points off Manchester City and a further three from Leicester before the top two meet at the Etihad ahead of Spurs’ match on Saturday.

Victory over Watford will have to come without Jan Vertonghen, the Belgian centre-half who has missed the last two games with knee ligament damage. However Keown believes Spurs can cope without him.

“It’s been fascinating to watch how his side defend this season,” he wrote in his Daily Mail column. “They press fast and high up the pitch, which panics opposition defences and makes them play at a tempo they don’t want to play at.

“It forces teams to hit the ball long and in Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen, Tottenham have two centre backs who will just eat that up.

“Vertonghen’s injury is a big loss but Kevin Wimmer looks solid and Eric Dier can always move back to his more natural position. They have really good pace at full back, too, which means there is good cover.”

Keown further noted that an increasingly pragmatic approach has helped Tottenham on their way to third in the table, where they lead local rivals and the 49-year-old’s former side Arsenall.

“It’s interesting that Spurs have committed the second-most fouls in the league and that most of them happen in the opposition half.

“It shows their hunger to win the ball back in dangerous areas but tactically it allows them to reset their shape before the opposition can attack.”