Watford 1-2 Chelsea: Thomas Tuchel’s side remain top of the Premier League with win at Watford

For a long time, at Vicarage Road, Chelsea were heading for more frustration.

They were stuttering badly and on course for a third league draw in four and to surrender top spot to Manchester City.

But, as well as possessing a squad packed with players capable of winning them matches they do not deserve, they have a manager who can too.

Tuchel’s gesticulating was growing increasingly wild and animated as his side struggled to break down and contain Watford.

Chelsea maintained their position at top of the Premier League with a 2-1 win over Watford thanks to Hakim Ziyech’s winner

The Moroccan (right) put Thomas Tuchel’s side back in front as the substitute thumped home a low cross from Mason Mount

Play was halted after 13 minutes as players alerted ref David Coote to a medical emergency in the stands at Vicarage Road 

But at the same time he was plotting the tweaks to turn one point into three. Eventually one did to, in Tuchel’s own words, steal the points.

Rather than maintain their intensity as he hoped, Tuchel’s initial six changes to his starting side may have, in hindsight, disrupted Chelsea’s flow.

Though that would not give Watford the credit they deserve.

But Tuchel began to rectify the situation by making one more alteration at half-time, replacing the struggling – again – and booked Saul Niguez with Thiago Silva.

That forced Tuchel into a reshuffle which saw Trevoh Chalobah move forward into midfield before he then also had to come off.

It would have been easy for Tuchel to opt for one of the defensive-minded options on his bench but, having dropped points against Burnley and Manchester United recently, he instead turned to attacking midfielder Hakim Ziyech and fortune favoured the brave when he scored the game’s decisive goal.

‘Super Tommy Tuchel,’ indeed, as the away fans sang.

Chelsea were well below par and clinging on at the end as Watford laid siege to their goal.

But the three points ensured they retained top spot and brought a victorious conclusion to their evening, if not satisfactory for Tuchel in terms of his side’s performance.

It had earlier been overshadowed by the collapse of a Watford supporter in the Graham Taylor Stand who suffered a cardiac arrest and required around 20 minutes of treatment.

There was a total delay of around 30 minutes to the game when both teams were taken off the pitch by referee David Coote.

Thankfully, the fan was stabilised sufficiently to be carried on a stretcher to a waiting ambulance before he was taken to neighbouring Watford General Hospital for more treatment.

Neither set of players were happy to return to resume the game until they were certain the supporter’s condition was heading in a positive direction.

‘We had the break due to very sad circumstances – hopefully the person is better,’ Tuchel said.

Claudio Ranieri said: ‘The man is in good condition. I wish him and his family all the best.’

The players gestured to the referee to alert him to the incident before Coote immediately halted the game due the emergency

The referee swiftly sent the players off the pitch and down the tunnel as play halted while medical staff attended to the fan

Both teams refused to return to the pitch until they received positive news, but after a 30-minute delay they warmed-up again

On Chelsea’s performance Tuchel added: ‘I will not insist too long on this match because it’s so unusual for us to play like this. That’s not us. We were absolutely not ready today for this match. We stole three points. We don’t have to talk around it. For the first time it feels like a lucky win.’

Before the enforced break due to the 10th-minute medical emergency in the stands Chelsea were under the cosh and in the wars.

Andreas Christensen – in the spotlight and back in the team after receiving a contract ultimatum from Tuchel – and Edouard Mendy both suffered knocks as Watford started on the front foot.

Mason Mount (centre) opens the scoring for Chelsea after Kai Havertz slipped the ball to the midfielder in plenty of space 

Emmanuel Dennis (L) found the net for a well-deserved Watford equaliser after Ruben Loftus-Cheek (R) gave the ball away

But, following the resumption, Mason Mount hit the post and then slotted Chelsea ahead after being coolly teed up by Marcos Alonso and Kai Havertz.

The dangerous Emmanuel Dennis levelled for Watford before half-time and Moussa Sissoko should have turned the game on its head before the break.

The second half also could have gone either way but it was Chelsea who nicked it thanks to Tuchel’s latest intervention and Ziyech’s sweeping finish from Mount’s cross.

Another Chelsea sub Romelu Lukaku also had an important role to play in repelling Watford late on with some important defensive contributions.

Watford remain fourth bottom but Ranieri added: ‘If we continue this way, to fight, sooner or later we’re going to change our story.’ 

William Troost-Ekong (right) clatters into Chelsea goalscorer Mount, warranting a booking from referee Coote

The Hornets defender furiously argued his case with the referee but Coote ultimately showed him a yellow card for the tackle

Before the pause in play, Adam Masina went down clutching his thigh and was replaced by Danny Rose after play resumed

Re-live how the action unfolded and catch up with the Premier League’s other 7.30pm kick-offs with ISABEL BALDWIN in our live blog below…