Category: Sport

MARCO SILVA’s Everton survived a scare against old club Watford to sneak a 1-0 victory courtesy of some Bernard Brazil-iance.

The Hornets are now winless in their last 14 visits to the blue half of Merseyside as they failed to sting the hosts despite dominating for long periods.

But the Toffees and their boss will not care one bit as they recorded a fifth-successive Prem home win.

Goodison was rocking with just ten minutes on the clock courtesy of some Samba magic from Bernard.

The 26-year-old was sent clear down the left by Lucas Digne’s wonderful diagonal ball out of defence.

The South American collected possession and cut in towards the edge of the area before shifting onto his right foot to rifle home low inside Ben Foster’s near post.

It was just reward for the Blues, who had looked pumped up from the off.

The Hornets, who dropped forward Andre Gray in favour of Roberto Pereyra after last week’s thumping against Brighton, were offering little in sting in attack with new signing Danny Welbeck left on the bench.

But they almost drew level from a corner as Jose Holebas whipped one to the back post and centre-half Craig Dawson rose highest to head towards the upright, with Everton stopper Jordan Pickford managing to get a fingertip to it.

Seconds later Dawson was involved in the thick of it again at the opposite end.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin attempted to turn the defender before falling to the ground to spark loud appeals for a penalty, but referee Lee Mason was having none of it.

Everton’s momentum was waning as the visitors took control and pressed for an equaliser before the break.

VAR was called into play after Gerard Deulofeu, Watford’s only real bright spark, and Yerry Mina tangled in the area as the Spaniard fell to the ground theatrically – correctly it showed there was no decision to make.

Etienne Capoue then forced Pickford into a save low to his left from long range but was fortunate not to receive his marching orders moments later.

Having earlier been booked for a foul on Richarlison, he then clattered into Bernard, but the lucky midfielder escaped a second yellow.

Richarlison should have punished his old employers for some slack defending and put the game to bed in the final stages of the half only to wastefully headed over from six yards when unmarked from a Gylfi Sigurdsson free-kick.

Neither Silva or Javi Gracia shuffled their packs at the interval as it was Watford who continued to press for a leveller.

And ten minutes after the restart they carved open the home defence following great work from Capoue and Deulofeu to send captain Troy Deeney clear.

But Pickford raced out to meet the Hornets skipper and save day and Deeney’s shot cannoned off the England stopper’s face.

Richarlison, who had been fouled by Holebas, then squandered another opportunity to silence the Watford boo boys when heading over again from the resulting free-kick.

That was to be the last action for the £40m man as Theo Walcott entered the fray only for the away team to come close again as Pereyra headed high above the crossbar from close-range.

The Hornets were buzzing and smelling blood as Welbeck was thrown for the final 20 minutes in search of an equaliser.

But the England international, playing his first game since November after recovering from a broken ankle, failed to celebrate his debut with a goal.

Although Watford did have one final opportunity as a loose ball fell to Abdoulaye Doucoure in the area, but the midfielder pulled his effort way off target as his side remain pointless.

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