SM
Watford vs. Leeds: 17 hrs 53 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
WL
Premier League | Gameweek 26
Feb 9, 2019 at 3pm UK
 
EL

1-0

Gray (65')
FT(HT: 0-0)

Zouma (95')

Gray day for Silva as Everton suffer setback at Watford

:Headline: Result: Gray day for Silva as Everton suffer setback at Watford: ID:349832: from db_amp
Portuguese endured an unhappy return to Vicarage Road.

Andre Gray piled the pressure on Everton manager Marco Silva after he scored the winner for Watford in Saturday's grudge match at Vicarage Road.

Substitute Gray netted the only goal of the game after 65 minutes to condemn Everton to their third straight Premier League defeat.

Silva was back at Vicarage Road for the first time since he was sacked as Hornets manager amid suggestions he had attempted to engineer a move to Everton, and, in the build-up, the typically outspoken Troy Deeney did his best to stoke the fire.

Andre Gray opened the scoring (Nigel French/PA)

Speaking at a fans' forum, Deeney urged the Watford supporters not to be too harsh on his former manager. Instead, he said: "Leave him alone, let us kick the s*** out of them."

Watford's captain added: "The people at Everton are fantastic. Not the manager."

He may have been more diplomatic in his programme notes, describing the hype surrounding his former manager's return as a "pantomime", but it was Deeney and his Watford team-mates who would enjoy the last laugh.

The predictable chorus of boos as Silva's name was read out by the stadium PA announcer, and ensuing X-rated chants about the Portuguese, dominated the opening exchanges, yet the Toffees enjoyed the best of a scrappy first half.

Marco Silva was not a popular man at Vicarage Road (Nigel French/PA)

Kurt Zouma provided home goalkeeper Ben Foster with his first test after 20 minutes, albeit with a tame header that was easily gobbled up by the former England man.

Foster was back in action 10 minutes before the interval when Cenk Tosun, one of three changes made by Silva from the team that lost against Manchester City, swivelled and unleashed a shot on the turn. Foster dived to his left, and averted the danger.

Watford have enjoyed a steady season under Javi Gracia, but the Spaniard would have been disappointed with their first-half showing. Their best chance of the opening period fell to Etienne Capoue. The midfielder held off Zouma, but blasted his half-volley from only a handful of yards out well over Jordan Pickford's crossbar – more in keeping with the Six Nations than the Premier League.

  • L 1-2 at Southampton
  • L 2-3 at Millwall (FA Cup)
  • W 1-0 at Huddersfield
  • L 1-3 to Wolves
  • L 0-2 to Man City
  • L 0-1 at Watford

Clearly unsettled by what he had seen, Gracia made a change at the interval, bringing off the ineffective Ken Sema and introducing Gray. Midway through the second half, his substitution had the desired effect.

Craig Cathcart was the surprise provider when his no-look pass found Will Hughes, whose fizzing cross landed at the feet of an unmarked Gray. The former Burnley man could make no mistake from underneath Pickford's crossbar to score his first goal since September.

The delirious Watford fans unleashed their full repertoire of anti-Silva songs. "Silva, what's the score?" they asked before chanting "you're getting sacked in the morning".

Fans prepared signs for Marco Silva's return (Nigel French/PA)

It would get even better for the home fans when Silva responded to Watford's goal by hauling off Richarlison, the Brazilian who left Watford to join Silva for £35million last summer.

To their credit, Everton, whose miserable record since the start of December is better only than Huddersfield and Fulham, did not throw in the towel and Lucas Digne came close to equalising when his free-kick hit the bar. But on a miserable afternoon, Zouma was dismissed for a second yellow card in the final moments as Silva, who headed straight for the tunnel on the final whistle, now faces further scrutiny.

amp_article__349832 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2019-02-12 09:48:57:
html db last update - 2021-03-01 23:49:07 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html
Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal28204470244664
2Liverpool28197265263964
3Manchester CityMan City28196363283563
4Aston Villa29175760421856
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs28165759421753
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd28152113939047
7West Ham UnitedWest Ham2912894650-444
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2811985044642
9Wolverhampton WanderersWolves28125114244-241
10Newcastle UnitedNewcastle281241259481140
11Chelsea27116104745239
12Fulham29115134344-138
13Bournemouth2898114152-1135
14Crystal Palace2878133348-1529
15Brentford2975174154-1326
16Everton2887132939-1025
17Luton TownLuton2957174260-1822
18Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest2967163551-1621
19Burnley2945202963-3417
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd2835202474-5014
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .