Match ends, Everton 3, Watford 2.
Everton held on to earn their first win under caretaker boss David Unsworth as Watford threw away a two-goal lead and Tom Cleverley missed an injury-time penalty for the visitors.
In a remarkable second half which lasted 58 minutes, Cleverley had the chance to snatch a point but put his weak spot-kick wide, handing Everton a first victory in five games.
The Hornets had taken a healthy lead thanks to goals from Richarlison and Christian Kabasele.
But they lost first-choice keeper Heurelho Gomes, who was taken off with a nasty head gash shortly before Kabasele's goal, and it proved to be the turning point.
Gomes' replacement Orestis Karnezis, on his Watford debut, was at fault for Everton's first when he came rushing out and Oumar Niasse darted past him and bundled the ball home.
From the Toffees' first corner of the game, Dominic Calvert-Lewin headed home to equalise, and Leighton Baines scored the winner from the spot after Jose Holebas brought down Aaron Lennon.
There was 12 minutes of injury time after the stoppage for Gomes plus treatment for a Kabasele back problem, and Watford thought they had rescued a draw when Everton keeper Jordan Pickford brought down Richarlison, but it was not to be for Cleverley.
Unsworth gets off the mark
Unsworth has endured a torrid fortnight in caretaker charge of the senior team at Everton, with three defeats and two cup exits since stepping up from his job as under-23 coach.
His chances of the full-time job seemed to have evaporated after Thursday's 3-0 defeat in the Europa League by Lyon, and although Sunday's result may not make a difference to his future, it has stopped the rot for the Toffees and helped them climb out of the bottom three.
"Whatever will be will be," said Unsworth after the match. "I have been the proudest man in the world to take charge for the last two weeks and no-one can take that away from me.
"I know nothing about it. I'm sure I'll speak to the chairman and owner and I'll keep giving my best for this wonderful club."
Who will take charge of Everton now?
If Unsworth has not done enough to earn the Everton job, then who else is a candidate?
Sam Allardyce had been strongly linked with a return to management with the Toffees, but speaking during his stint as a pundit on Match of the Day on Saturday, the former England, West Ham and Crystal Palace boss said: "You never know, but I don't think so really."
David Moyes has said he would be open to a return to Goodison Park, having spent 11 years in charge before leaving for Manchester United in 2013. However, the 54-year-old Scot has also been linked with West Ham, where Slaven Bilic's future is in doubt.
Sean Dyche had also been linked with the Toffees job, but the Burnley boss said two weeks ago that he had not been approached.
Everton may well make their mind up during the two-week international break that has now started.
Watford capitulate as their dip in form continues
Watford failed to register a shot on target in a drab first half but they came out invigorated after the break.
Only 30 seconds after the restart, Toffees defender Michael Keane was dispossessed and Andre Gray set up Richarlison, who slotted home at the near post.
Although Gomes' injury seemed serious, it looked as though Watford had not been affected by his loss as Kabasele netted their second with a powerful header from Holebas' corner.
But then they capitulated. Greece international Karnezis, who has only played four times this season, all for his country, was definitely at fault for the first goal, and should have done better for the second.
And there is no doubt Cleverley's last-gasp penalty was wasted, as he scuffed wide against his former club, meaning Watford fell to a third consecutive league defeat.
"We were comfortable at 2-0. I didn't remember a period of 10 minutes when they had big pressure," said manager Marco Silva.
"The details made the difference. We made one mistake and they began to believe. Our player slipped for the penalty, and that's very unlucky."
Man of the match - Leighton Baines
Everton's comeback - the stats
- Everton came from two goals down to win at home in the Premier League for only the second time ever and for the first time since May 1994 against Wimbledon.
- Watford have lost each of their last three Premier League games, after losing just one of their previous eight under Marco Silva this season.
- Richarlison has been directly involved in six goals in the Premier League this season (four goals, two assists), more than any other Watford player.
- Oumar Niasse has netted four goals in his four Premier League appearances at Goodison Park for Everton this season.
- Dominic Calvert-Lewin has had a hand in more goals in all competitions this term than any other Everton player (five goals, two assists).
- Leighton Baines has netted 19 Premier League penalties, the 10th biggest spot-kick haul of any player in the competition's history.
What's next?
After the international break, Everton travel to Crystal Palace on Saturday, 18 November (15:00 GMT) while Watford host West Ham the following day (16:00 GMT).
Line-ups
Everton
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Pickford
- 43Kenny
- 6Jagielka
- 4Keane
- 3Baines
- 17Gueye
- 54BaningimeSubstituted forLookmanat 55'minutes
- 26Davies
- 18G SigurdssonSubstituted forLennonat 85'minutes
- 19Niasse
- 10RooneySubstituted forCalvert-Lewinat 67'minutes
Substitutes
- 5Williams
- 12Lennon
- 21Besic
- 29Calvert-Lewin
- 30Holgate
- 31Lookman
- 33Robles
Watford
Formation 4-3-3
- 1GomesSubstituted forKarnezisat 59'minutes
- 21Femenía
- 27KabaseleSubstituted forMariappaat 79'minutes
- 3BritosBooked at 69mins
- 25HolebasBooked at 90mins
- 19HughesSubstituted forOkakaat 90+4'minutes
- 16Doucouré
- 8Cleverley
- 28Carrillo
- 18Gray
- 11Richarlison
Substitutes
- 2Janmaat
- 6Mariappa
- 17Sinclair
- 23Watson
- 29Capoue
- 30Karnezis
- 33Okaka
- Referee:
- Graham Scott
- Attendance:
- 38,609
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home38%
- Away62%
- Shots
- Home9
- Away11
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away3
- Corners
- Home2
- Away5
- Fouls
- Home14
- Away12
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Everton 3, Watford 2.
Post update
Corner, Everton. Conceded by José Holebas.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Oumar Niasse (Everton) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jordan Pickford.
Post update
Adrian Mariappa (Watford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Everton).
Post update
Foul by Abdoulaye Doucouré (Watford).
Post update
Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Everton) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Penalty missed! Bad penalty by Tom Cleverley (Watford) right footed shot misses to the left. Tom Cleverley should be disappointed.
Post update
Penalty Watford. Richarlison draws a foul in the penalty area.
Post update
Penalty conceded by Jordan Pickford (Everton) after a foul in the penalty area.
Post update
Miguel Britos (Watford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Aaron Lennon (Everton).
Substitution
Substitution, Watford. Stefano Okaka replaces Will Hughes.
Goal!
Goal! Everton 3, Watford 2. Leighton Baines (Everton) converts the penalty with a left footed shot to the bottom left corner.
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Booking
José Holebas (Watford) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Delay in match José Holebas (Watford) because of an injury.
Post update
Penalty conceded by José Holebas (Watford) after a foul in the penalty area.
Post update
Penalty Everton. Aaron Lennon draws a foul in the penalty area.
Comments
Join the conversation
Good on you David Unsworth.
Could he still be in the running? Hope so
Leave it with Unsworth until we know who the owner really is. Hopefully Usmanov will jump ship to Goodison and spend a billion in the transfer window.
.....What do you want, a PROPER EVERTONIAN like Rhino, or some Plastic import?
Be careful what you wish for, my friends.
My wish is for David Unsworth and some stability.
Good Luck David...In my opinion you are the Man for the job.
(I await downmarks with humour from folks who are not Evertonians or know nothing about football history or tradition)
I am so happy we were finally on the receiving end of some good luck because hopefully this will give the players a much needed confidence boost.
Undecided on Unsy, as much as I like him he keeps picking the underperforming players like Rooney, Baines and Williams(today withstanding). I say give him until 31st December and see where we are at.
COYB!
That said, Everton coming back from 0-2 at home to take all three points is a bit special, this season.
Unlikely to affect the points considering the purchase passed all premier league tests. If anything untoward has gone on it will be fines and banishment for the secretive owners, not the clubs involved. Sorry gloating, hypocritical fans of other clubs but Everton will not be relegated as a result of the Panorama story.
Did England get docked points when Big Bung Sam was found out?
That's right. All the way to 1878 noobs.
Limited sympathy for Watford, seemed to be lacking some cojones tbh...(Deeney really is a muppet). That said you look like you have an excellent manager and likely to have a great season.
Who cares. Glorified PE teacher
=
LOL, I take it you were the lazy sod who cut corners on the cross country runs?