Harry Kane believes Tottenham have improved so much this season because there are no “bad eggs” in the squad.

Tottenham are second in the table, five points below leaders Leicester, after losing only three of their 25 League games. Spurs can close the gap to two points this weekend if they win at Manchester City and Leicester are beaten at Arsenal.

There has been a stark difference between Spurs’ performances this season and last. During Mauricio Pochettino’s first campaign in charge, Tottenham conceded 53 league goals.

With 13 games remaining this term, they have let in only 19, which is the best defensive record in the top flight.

Asked about the difference between this season and last, Kane said: “Everyone in this group works hard and is working towards the same thing.

“Even the players who don’t play are still working hard in training and doing all the right things to try to get into the team, which is important.

“If you have one or two bad eggs, it can bring others down others — and we don’t have that. Everyone is fighting for each other and we are in a lot of competitions, so people know they will play games to try to impress the manager. We’ve got to try to keep that belief high.

“It has been another year with the manager, building his philosophy. We had a good pre-season and we have a good bunch of lads.”

Pochettino sanctioned a number of changes to the squad during the summer, which resulted in Aaron Lennon, Etienne Capoue, Paulinho, Younes Kaboul, Vlad Chiriches, Benjamin Stambouli, Lewis Holtby, Benoit Assou-Ekotto and Roberto Soldado all moving on.

Tottenham vs Watford: Player Ratings 27 show all Tottenham vs Watford: Player Ratings 1/27 Who stood out at White Hart Lane? 2/27 Hugo Lloris: 6 Rarely called into action. The Frenchman was solid for the most part but did have one nervous moment when he rushed off his line and was almost chipped by Abdi. 3/27 Kieran Trippier: 8 The full back capped a Man of the Match display with a fully deserved first goal for Spurs. Comfortable on the ball and competent in defence, he was sound in both thirds of the pitch. Kyle Walker is no longer assured of his place. AFP/Getty Images 4/27 Toby Alderweireld: 7 Gobbled up everything in the air but was rarely tested on the deck. Looks to have thrived with the new level of responsibility on his shoulders after Jan Vertonghen's injury. 5/27 Kevin Wimmer: 6 This was set to be Wimmer's biggest test yet but the absence of Deeney for the first half ensured that the Austrian had a relatively comfortable afternoon. Confident on the ball. 6/27 Ben Davies: 7 Pushed forward at every opportunity and had a field day down the left flank. The Welshman had several opportunities and should have converted a least one. 7/27 Mousa Dembele: 7 Watford struggled get to grips with the Belgian's power and he was heavily involved in Trippier's winner - exhibiting strength and poise to help split open the Watford defence. 8/27 Eric Dier: 6 The midfielder produced far too many needless fouls and was fortunate Watford's delivery was so poor from the resulting set pieces. However, his positional awareness and ability to drop into a back three did allow the Spurs full backs the freedom of the pitch. 9/27 Nacer Chadli: 6 The Belgian has been in fine form in recent weeks but was not at his best here. Although Chadli was deployed on the left flank it was Davies who carried most of the threat down that side. Subbed on the hour mark. 10/27 Christian Eriksen: 6 The Danish midfielder will not have done enough to convince Mauricio Pochettino he is worthy of wrestling the number 10 role back from Dele Alli on this performance. 11/27 Erik Lamela: 6 The Argentine's defensive work rate could not be faulted but he was unable to make the difference in the final third. Hit and miss set piece delivery. 12/27 Harry Kane: 6 The striker was unfortunate to see two penalty appeals waved away but also failed to make the most of several chances which fell his way. Not as clinical as we have come to expect. 13/27 Dele Alli: 7 The midfielder was introduced on the hour mark and made an immediate impact courtesy of a cracking assist for Trippier's goal. 2016 Getty Images 14/27 Son Heung-min: 6 The South Korean is a sound option from the bench and drove at a tiring Watford defence at every opportunity. 15/27 Heurelho Gomes: 7 The Brazilian's spells at Spurs was defined by mistakes but he produced a superb string of saves on his old stomping ground. Lucky not to concede a spot kick when he hauled down Kane. 16/27 Allan Nyom: 6 Struggled to cope with the threat of Davies down the left flank. 17/27 Craig Cathcart: 6 Gave as good as he got but struggled to cope with a fluid Spurs front line. 18/27 Nathan Ake: 6 Pushed forward when he could but could do little to stop the attacking threat of Trippier, who gave the Chelsea loanee a torrid time. 19/27 Miguel Britos: 6 Was a key cog in Watford's sturdy first-half display but was withdrawn just moments into the second after picking up a knock in a challenge with Nacer Chadli. 20/27 Mario Suarez: 5 The first half passed Watford's new signing by and he was withdrawn at the break. Needs to pull his socks up to cut the mustard in England's top tier. 21/27 Ben Watson: 5 The Englishman's poor set piece delivery meant Waford could not make the most of the few chances that they had. 22/27 Etienne Capoue: 6 Booked for nasty challenge on Trippier on his return to White Hart Lane. Played well at times but was also chasing shadows at others. 23/27 Jose Manuel Jurado: 6 Provided a bit of sparkle on the left flank but, ultimately, little end product. 24/27 Almen Abdi: 5 Unfortunate to see his lobbed attempt get caught in the wind and fly over the Tottenham crossbar but rarely threatened. Hooked at half time. 25/27 Odion Ighalo: 5 Watford's talisman cut an isolated figure up front throughout and had no impact on proceedings. 26/27 Valon Behrami: 5 Brought on at the break and passed well, but could not stop Spurs once the hosts turned the screw. 27/27 Troy Deeney: 6 Eyebrows were raised when the striker was named on the bench and although his introduction produced an upturn in Watford's display it was too little, too late. 1/27 Who stood out at White Hart Lane? 2/27 Hugo Lloris: 6 Rarely called into action. The Frenchman was solid for the most part but did have one nervous moment when he rushed off his line and was almost chipped by Abdi. 3/27 Kieran Trippier: 8 The full back capped a Man of the Match display with a fully deserved first goal for Spurs. Comfortable on the ball and competent in defence, he was sound in both thirds of the pitch. Kyle Walker is no longer assured of his place. AFP/Getty Images 4/27 Toby Alderweireld: 7 Gobbled up everything in the air but was rarely tested on the deck. Looks to have thrived with the new level of responsibility on his shoulders after Jan Vertonghen's injury. 5/27 Kevin Wimmer: 6 This was set to be Wimmer's biggest test yet but the absence of Deeney for the first half ensured that the Austrian had a relatively comfortable afternoon. Confident on the ball. 6/27 Ben Davies: 7 Pushed forward at every opportunity and had a field day down the left flank. The Welshman had several opportunities and should have converted a least one. 7/27 Mousa Dembele: 7 Watford struggled get to grips with the Belgian's power and he was heavily involved in Trippier's winner - exhibiting strength and poise to help split open the Watford defence. 8/27 Eric Dier: 6 The midfielder produced far too many needless fouls and was fortunate Watford's delivery was so poor from the resulting set pieces. However, his positional awareness and ability to drop into a back three did allow the Spurs full backs the freedom of the pitch. 9/27 Nacer Chadli: 6 The Belgian has been in fine form in recent weeks but was not at his best here. Although Chadli was deployed on the left flank it was Davies who carried most of the threat down that side. Subbed on the hour mark. 10/27 Christian Eriksen: 6 The Danish midfielder will not have done enough to convince Mauricio Pochettino he is worthy of wrestling the number 10 role back from Dele Alli on this performance. 11/27 Erik Lamela: 6 The Argentine's defensive work rate could not be faulted but he was unable to make the difference in the final third. Hit and miss set piece delivery. 12/27 Harry Kane: 6 The striker was unfortunate to see two penalty appeals waved away but also failed to make the most of several chances which fell his way. Not as clinical as we have come to expect. 13/27 Dele Alli: 7 The midfielder was introduced on the hour mark and made an immediate impact courtesy of a cracking assist for Trippier's goal. 2016 Getty Images 14/27 Son Heung-min: 6 The South Korean is a sound option from the bench and drove at a tiring Watford defence at every opportunity. 15/27 Heurelho Gomes: 7 The Brazilian's spells at Spurs was defined by mistakes but he produced a superb string of saves on his old stomping ground. Lucky not to concede a spot kick when he hauled down Kane. 16/27 Allan Nyom: 6 Struggled to cope with the threat of Davies down the left flank. 17/27 Craig Cathcart: 6 Gave as good as he got but struggled to cope with a fluid Spurs front line. 18/27 Nathan Ake: 6 Pushed forward when he could but could do little to stop the attacking threat of Trippier, who gave the Chelsea loanee a torrid time. 19/27 Miguel Britos: 6 Was a key cog in Watford's sturdy first-half display but was withdrawn just moments into the second after picking up a knock in a challenge with Nacer Chadli. 20/27 Mario Suarez: 5 The first half passed Watford's new signing by and he was withdrawn at the break. Needs to pull his socks up to cut the mustard in England's top tier. 21/27 Ben Watson: 5 The Englishman's poor set piece delivery meant Waford could not make the most of the few chances that they had. 22/27 Etienne Capoue: 6 Booked for nasty challenge on Trippier on his return to White Hart Lane. Played well at times but was also chasing shadows at others. 23/27 Jose Manuel Jurado: 6 Provided a bit of sparkle on the left flank but, ultimately, little end product. 24/27 Almen Abdi: 5 Unfortunate to see his lobbed attempt get caught in the wind and fly over the Tottenham crossbar but rarely threatened. Hooked at half time. 25/27 Odion Ighalo: 5 Watford's talisman cut an isolated figure up front throughout and had no impact on proceedings. 26/27 Valon Behrami: 5 Brought on at the break and passed well, but could not stop Spurs once the hosts turned the screw. 27/27 Troy Deeney: 6 Eyebrows were raised when the striker was named on the bench and although his introduction produced an upturn in Watford's display it was too little, too late.

Emmanuel Adebayor reached a settlement with the club last September and departed, before joining Crystal Palace during the winter transfer window.

Kane, 22, was careful not to name any team-mate, past or present, when discussing the atmosphere at Tottenham.

But he made it clear that a poor attitude would not be tolerated, either by Pochettino and his staff or the players themselves.

He added: “There are some pretty good players in this squad and everyone is together, which is important.

“There is nobody who doesn’t want to train or who tries to take it easy, because none of the players would let him do that.

“Everyone speaks up and tells each other what is needed to be done to reach the top, which is why we’ve got a great team. Everyone is chipping in and that is all we can ask for.”

