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Post by Everton News. on Feb 24, 2018 19:49:29 GMT
Watford 1-0 EvertonFrom Watford’s point of view, Troy Deeney’s first Premier League goal from open play since April was sweet in more ways than one. Firstly there was the finish – clean, crisp, clinical, and then there was the opponent – Everton, the side who those in charge here blame for destabilising Marco Silva to the point where they had no choice but to sack the Portuguese in late January and replace him with Javi Gracia. If revenge was the aim in these parts prior to kick-off than it was most certainly achieved. For Everton this defeat maintains their woeful away record this season – just one victory away from Goodison Park and that in mid-December –and while it was perhaps underserved on the balance of play, the visitors created so little that they cannot feel too hard done by either. They remain in ninth while Watford move up to 10th. Gracia made one change to the Watford team that lost at West Ham a fortnight ago, bringing Roberto Pereyra in for Marvin Zeegelaar, who was named among the substitutes. As was Heurelho Gomes following his return from injury, which meant a sixth successive start in goal for Orestis Karnezis. The 32-year-old has impressed in Gomes’s absence and this match presented him with a chance for redemption after he was at fault for Everton’s first goal in their 3-2 victory over Watford at Goodison Park in November, having come on for Gomes with the visitors leading 2-0. The Greek’s first involvement here was to see out a Gylfi Sigurddson free-kick from the right-hand side on four minutes that Oumar Niasse could, and perhaps should, have connected with at the back post. From there this contest developed into a high-paced, frantic affair, with both sides looking to stamp their authority on proceedings but lacking the care and class in possession to do so. There was a nice piece of skill from Gerard Deulofeu as he twisted and turned Michael Keane on the edge of Everton’s area only for the move to break down when the Spaniard, facing his former side, overhit his through pass to the overlapping Daryl Janmaat. For Everton, Theo Walcott delivered a low cross that could have led to something had Étienne Capoue not slid across his own area to clear the danger, otherwise the first half was most notable for the robust challenges exchanged between the sides, the most wince-inducing of which came from Keane on Abdoulaye Doucouré on 27 minutes. The England defender connected with the ball but he also caught the Watford midfielder’s ankle and was lucky not to give away a free-kick. There was little let-up in the pace of proceedings at the start of the second half and in the space of three minutes both sides wasted presentable chances to take the lead. First, Keane sent Idrissa Gueye’s right-sided cross wide with a close-range header that was utterly lacking in conviction, and then, on 55 minutes, Troy Deeney sent a header of his own into the hands of Jordan Pickford having found himself with the time and space to do much better after been picked out by Roberto Pereyra. Gracia and Allardyce reacted to the ensuing stalemate with substitutions. Watford’s manager made two while Everton’s made one, bringing Cenk Tosun on for Niasse on 56 minutes for only the Turkey striker’s fourth appearance since arriving from Besiktas in January. The change was somewhat surprising given Allardyce’s recent claim that Tosun is struggling to adapt to the current cold conditions in England – it was very cold indeed here. The game appeared to be petering out for a draw before a late Watford surge. It started with a Pickford clearance that hit Deeney and ended with the Watford captain collecting Stefano Okaka’s pass, spinning inside the area and lashing an unstoppable rising shot into the net. Cue jubilation among the home supporters and weary deja vu in the away end. Guardian
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Post by rugbytoffee on Feb 24, 2018 20:11:01 GMT
NO AMBITION NO PASSION NO CONFIDENCE LITTLE ABILITY
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Post by Everton News. on Feb 24, 2018 20:17:20 GMT
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Post by Avinalaff on Feb 24, 2018 20:18:36 GMT
NO AMBITION NO PASSION NO CONFIDENCE LITTLE ABILITY Hard pill to swallow every week mate. I think this season will do for me, and can't wait for it to end.
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sheff
Dodgy Goalkeeper
Posts: 891
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Post by sheff on Feb 25, 2018 12:07:32 GMT
I just don't get it with our players. They give up too easily.
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