WATFORD were cruelly dumped out of the FA Cup at Vicarage Road this evening (Friday) as Tottenham Hotspur showed their clinical streak in front of goal.

Sean Dyche's side were impressive throughout the Fourth Round game under the lights, but Spurs' first-half goal, just one of two chances on goal during the first 45, made all the difference.

Rafael Van der Vaart's goal three minutes before the break won the tie for the north Londoners and despite some great chances for the 'Orns, especially during the second half, it is the Premier League side who go through to the next round.

It was a great atmosphere under the lights at The Vic as the Hornets' faithful backed Sean Dyche's men from the first whistle until the last. 

Scott Loach was between the sticks for the Hornets at The Vic, in front of him was Lee Hodson at right back with Adrian Mariappa and Nyron Nosworthy at centre back.

There was a change at left back with Carl Dickinson dropping down to the bench and Lloyd Doyley coming in to take his place.

Sean Murray was the surprise inclusion in midfield as he started on the left side, in place of Mark Yeates.

Captain John Eustace was in the heart of midfield with Prince Buaben, while Troy Deeney started on the right flank.

Jonathan Hogg was missing through injury and was replaced by Joe Garner, who partnered Marvin Sordell in attack.

Harry Redknapp named a strong side for the visitors, certainly containing more first-team names than in the last round against Cheltenham Town.

The likes of Emmanuel Adebayor, Scott Parker, Luka Modric, Van der Vaart were in Spurs' starting XI.

The Hornets enjoyed an excellent opening half an hour, having the better of the play and the chances.

Sordell's effort was easily saved by Carlo Cudicini after six minutes.

Then two minutes later Murray's drive wasn't held by the Tottenham keeper but with the ball loose in the penalty box the Hornets were unable to fire the ball in.

Skipper Eustace blasted wide as another effort fly at the Italian in the away goal.

On the quarter of an hour mark Deeney's excellent cross from the right to the near post couldn't quite be directed at goal by Sordell.

A moment later Buaben drove wide as the Hornets overshadowed their expensively assembled opponents.

Garner wasn't quite sharp enough as he mistimed his kick after 25 minutes following Deeney's tidy cross to the six-yard box.

Defoe had Spurs' first shot at goal just before the half hour mark, then their second shot at goal made their difference just before the interval.

Spurs broke away and after Buaben just missed the ball after a slide tackle, Van Der Vaart moved forward and fired a low shot over the dive of Loach.

Aaron Lennon was introduced at the start of the second half, replacing Modric in the Tottenham midfield.

During the early stages of the half Eustace blasted over from inside the penalty area and then Watford had a glorious chance to even the scores.

Firstly Murray curled a lovely shot against the post and then Deeney came in for the rebound.

With Cudicini trying to get to his feet the striker drove at goal but his effort went wide of the goal at The Rookery End.

Spurs had more chances at goal during the second 45 minutes, Lennon blasted wide on 52 and then Loach tipped a header over the bar shortly afterwards.

Van der Vaart rattled the woodwork as Tottenham again drove forward, however the Hornets stuck at the task in hand and were giving their all to the cause.

The atmosphere inside The Vic didn't let up and neither did the action on the pitch. Deeney drove wide from distance and then Eustace's header, from a Mark Yeates' corner, hit the outside of the post.

Yeates had been brought on for Murray after 68 minutes and his first set-piece of the evening was a deep cross to pick out the skipper deep in the area two minutes later.

The Hornets then stepped up the gears and put Spurs under under another tidal wave of pressure.

Buaben's soft shot was easily saved on 73 minutes and then Garner glanced a header wide after 76 minutes.

Tottenham's goal was leading a charmed life and never more so than after a double save and block.

Firstly Nosworthy's shot inside the box was saved by Cudicini and then Sordell's second attempt was blocked by a covering Spurs defender.
 
The pressure continued and Yeates' shot hit Dawson with eight minutes remaining but the hosts couldn't find a way to level the scores and Redknapp's men held on to secure the victory.

HORNETS: Loach; Hodson, Mariappa, Nosworthy, Doyley; Deeney, Eustace (c), Buaben, Murray (Yeates 68); Garner (Whichelow 80) , Sordell. Subs not used: Bond (GK), Dickinson, Iwelumo, Forsyth, Jenkins.

SPURS: Cudicini; Walker, Kaboul, Dawson (c), Rose; Parker, Modric (Lennon h/time), Livermore; Van der Vaart, Defoe (Pienaar 80), Adebayor (Pavlyuchenko 90+1). Subs not used: Friedal (GK), Bassong, Kranjcar, Assou-Ekotto.

SCORERS: HORNETS; none. SPURS: Van der Vaart (42).

BOOKINGS: HORNETS; Hodson (88). SPURS; none.

ATTENDANCE: 15,384

REFEREE: Chris Foy.