On Monday night, Everton and Watford drew 2-2 at Goodison Park in an interesting Premier League encounter that had nearly everything. French full-back Lucas Digne rescued a point for the home side in the 96th minute with a superb free-kick from just outside the penalty area.
The goal was a fitting end to what had been a hard-fought encounter encompassed by some rather strange officiating from the officials.
Everton lucky to grab a point
Everton actually took the lead on 15 minutes, as former Watford star Richarlison came back to haunt the Hornets. A good team move eventually led to Andre Gomes picking out the Brazilian in the area and the forward smashed an effort past Ben Foster in the visitor’s goal.
However, the goal was a controversial one, as Theo Walcott was standing in an offside position when he poked the ball to Gomes for his decisive cross. The decision was not the only strange one, as Everton’s Colombian centre-back Yerry Mina was lucky to escape a second yellow card just before half-time for what looked like a miss-timed tackle on Isaac Success on the edge of the area.
Watford came out the much stronger team in the second half and grabbed a deserved equaliser on 63 minutes through a huge slice of luck. Roberto Pereyra curled an effort on to the post but the rebound dribbled into the net off the shin of Everton captain Seamus Coleman.
The Hornets continued to look the more likely to score next and Javi Gracia’s team took the lead just two minutes later. The Everton defence were in disarray, as midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure towered above Coleman to head home.
However, Everton had the chance to equalise on 68 minutes when Christian Kabasele rather clumsily pushed Yerry Mina over the penalty area. Icelandic playmaker Gylfi Sigurdsson stepped-up to take the spot-kick, only for Foster to save the effort with his legs.
Watford looked set to be heading for their first ever league win at Goodison Park, but it was not to be as Everton mounted a full-on onslaught of the visitor’s goal. Kabasele fouled Mina once again just outside the area and Digne curled a superb effort past Foster at his left-hand post.
The visitors would probably have taken a draw before the match but will have felt that it is a case of two points dropped considering the nature of the draw.
Where does that result leave the two teams?
Everton missed the chance to move back into the top six of the Premier League table and remain seventh place. Marco Silva’s team have now won just once in their last five league games with a trip to reigning champions Manchester City on Saturday lunchtime.
The Toffees will need to lift their game massively if they are to have a chance of avoiding embarrassment at the Etihad Stadium. Everton will be massive underdogs to pick up anything from their trip to Manchester.
Watford remain 12th in the table, three points behind the Merseysiders. The Hornets have now failed to win in their last six Premier League games, picking up two draws and suffering four defeats. Javi Gracia’s side host Cardiff at Vicarage Road on Saturday, where they will be confident of ending the recent winless run.
Did Everton deserve anything from Monday night’s game?
