Match Report

From the highs of Sunday’s win at Leicester, Everton fell a little flat in what was, on paper, the more routine fixture of the two. Given that Leeds went down to a 3-0 defeat at Elland Road this evening, a win would have practically secured Premier League football for another season but the Blues inched closer to salvation with this rather pedestrian display and the point it earned.

Watford were on a club-record 11-match losing run at home and hadn’t kept a clean sheet at Vicarage Road all season so the script was there for Everton to oblige. Importantly, the Toffees didn’t allow disappointment to turn into disaster… not that that was really ever likely against a Hornets side missing a host of first-teamers and with nothing to play for but pride, having had their demotion back to the Championship confirmed on Sunday.

This did reek of an opportunity missed, however, and Frank Lampard’s decision to not only persist with some tired-looking players, chief among them Anthony Gordon and Demarai Gray, but also wait until the 77th minute to make the first of only two changes on the day was a curious one.

You got the sense that a Dele Alli or even André Gomes might have fancied a chance to make an impact on the season run-in, but neither got the nod in the second half and though Dominic Calvert-Lewin came on for a cameo and won a few headers, everything rather fizzled out along with the boisterous renditions of Spirit of the Blues from the packed away section.

Perhaps not surprisingly, with onus on them to attack and create, Everton found themselves in the familiar territory of the last couple of seasons where they lacked the creativity and guile to open up a side that had few designs on actually winning the game. Add in more than a touch of anxiety at not wanting to lose and you had the ingredients for the display that came from the Toffees’ players.

This was a far less open game than the one at the King Power Stadium on Sunday and though the Blues had far more possession, they had fewer chances. It didn’t help that the wing-back system was retained deep into the second half so that Calvert-Lewin’s introduction made little difference with so little service.

Lacking tempo and urgency, Lampard’s side started a little cagily but when they did get forward in the early stages, they found Watford’s back line in the way. Gordon’s excellent run led to an attempted cross that was blocked behind and from the resulting corner, Richarlison’s shot was charged down amid a melée of bodies.

Richarlison then sent Alex Iwobi into space down the channel but the Nigerian international elected not to shoot and his cross deflected behind for a corner before Gordon despatched a half-hearted volley high over the crossbar and Abdoulaye Doucouré had the only effort on target of the half when he looped a header that Foster comfortably caught.

Watford, who were without an almost a team’s worth of senior players, lacked conviction themselves and were reduced to pot-shots from distance from Samuel Kalu and Dan Gosling which were skied into the stand behind the goal. Meanwhile, Pickford’s only real involvement was to punch clear a dangerous free-kick from the right in the 17th minute and play sweeper-keeper early in the second half to snuff out a rare attempted breakaway by the Hornets.

Everton came closest to scoring the one goal they needed to take themselves within touching distance of safety in the 53rd and 62nd minutes. First, Foster pawed Richarlison’s deflected effort wide with an impressive save; then, after Michael Keane’s shot off a corner was blocked behind, Gray played a one-two with Iwobi but dragged his shot across the face of goal and past the far post.

Lampard belatedly looked to change things with 13 minutes left when the threw on Calvert-Lewin in place of Gray and, later, Allan for Fabian Delph but apart from some fairly tame shots from Gordon, Doucouré and Vitalii Mykolenko, the Blues didn’t make much of a fist of a late push for a winner.

It has been an emotionally-charged 11 days, with two key wins over Chelsea and Leicester hauling Everton out of the bottom three so a less-than fiery performance was, perhaps, understandable but there was a smattering of complacency about the Toffees as well.

That won’t do against Brentford this Sunday, particularly if Leeds pick up anything at home to Brighton in the earlier kick-off so it will be incumbent on the manager to refocus the minds and ensure that they see the job through to its full conclusion.

Lyndon Lloyd

Matchday Updates

Tentative, nervy, pragmatic... or just utterly lacking in the required desire, effort, guile and quality to beat a crap team who were already relegated? A sadly typical very winnable Everton game that only Everton would be incapable of winning.

Frank Lampard is without Yerry Mina and Ben Godfrey, both injured. Keane is the only change, him and Holgate make up the central defensive partnership, alongside Seamus Coleman with Alex Iwobi and Vitalli Mykolenko as wing-backs.

Donny van de Beek is ruled out again with a persistent groin problem. Dominic Calvert-Lewin has also been withheld from action given the poor form he has shown after his return from injury and he has to be content with a place on the substitutes' bench once again. He hasn't played for over a month.

A beautiful sunny summer's evening at Vicarage Road saw another incredible turnout of Blues travelling fans, packed into a wedge of the west stand and in great voice from the get-go.

Anthony Gordon kicked off but it was a scrappy start to the game, with Everton unable to exert control through numerous poor turnovers. An unbelievably shocking clearance from Pickford was played straight to a Watford player and nearly caught him out in return.

The first 5 minutes had been played entirely in Everton's half, but Everton finally advanced through Gray, only to be easily thwarted, Watford allowed to attack again, with a shocking lack of urgency from the lazy, sloppy Blues.

Gray advanced again, but shot poorly rather than playing in Mykolenko. Everton finally played some better football in approaching the Watford area after 13 minutes but did not fashion a chance.

Holgate made a nice clean tackle on Sema and was astoundingly given a yellow card the senile Mike Dean! Pickford had to punch the free-kick clear before Kalu blazed over.

Gordon again got free down the right and Gray should have done better for the set-up. Iwobi then got free and should have crossed but bounced it off his standing leg, amazingly winning a corner. Mykolenko tried another left-foot volley from Gordon's corner but this one was heading for the corner flag.

Gordon switched to the left but could not drive forward when he was given the ball. Mykolenko was equally circumspect, playing the ball backwards rather than advancing.

Richarlison had a good run but fell was clearly tripped by Sissoko. No foul given by Mike Dean. Iwobi got down the right and Gordon was tempted to make a high volley that sailed miles over the bar.

Some great work by Mykolenko won another Everton corner, Gordon playing this one to the far post but it was easily cleared. Everton resorted to more backwards play that drew Watford out and made some space but the Blues just failed again to make anything of it.

Richarlison ran forward with the ball again and this time Sissoko was called for the foul on the corner of the Watford box, but it was defended away by Watford.

Coleman gave away a potentially dangerous free-kick that was wellied over the bar by Kalu. Still Everton seemed half-asleep as the whistle blew for the break with no score in a really poor game of football.

The game resumed with no changes in personnel. Mykolenko did well to force a throw and then a corner, delivered short to Gordon and worked around by Delph to zero effect.

Everton continued to play very conservatively and almost made a mistake that Pickford had to rescue, but then Keane committed a needless foul. A great ball in glanced off Sissoko's head and behind.

From a throw-in and] excellent chance almost worked for Richarlison, Foster saving the deflected shot and defending the corner away. Gordon tried a clever pass across the Watford 18-yard line to change the angle of attack but it was read easily by a Watford defender.

Delph played a great ball to Gordon but it all took far too long to develop, although eventually winning a 7th corner. Gray's ball in was wicked but glanced behind by a Watford head for another corner. Keane forced the corner behind again for another corner but nothing was coming from them.

It was at least a good period of forward play by Everton, without really testing Foster in the Watford goal. The hour-mark: time for Salamon Rondon?

Gray advanced with pace and played a decent 0ne-two with Iwobi only to clip the return ball inches past the far post. Perhaps the best chance so far.

Everton moved it forward more confidently again, winning a corner, Keane headed it into Foster's hands but the tempo at least was increasing. However, Watford got forward, Coleman shown another daft yellow card for pulling out of a dangerous collision. From the free-kick, Watford got their first corner which was nicely ovverhit.

At the other end, Gray got the ball but fired well over the Watford goal. Still no moveent from Frank "No Subs" Lampard.

Gray got free, Richarlison did well to bet Kabasele, but his cross was not good enough for Gray at the far post. But it won yet another corner. At least Everton were finally competing for the ball deep in the Watford half, while needing to stay alert for the danger of a counter.

After some Watford pressure, Everton looked to break but Richarlison went too early and was offside. Frank finally made a move, and it was a big surprise: Calvert-Lewin, the firer of blanks, on for Gray.

Everton were now regularly pushing forward, Richarlison unable to play in DCL, then Gordon firing a shot in from a long way out, not clever enough to beat anyone, never mind 5-times relegated Ben Foster.

ordon was fouled wide right and took the free-kick himself, delivered with unerring accuracy into the arms of Foster, setting up a decent counter from Watford. Allan replaced Delph.

Another ambling attack saw Docoure get close but fail to shoot, and Watford countered dangerously again as the game became end-to-end, Everton continuing to spurn decisive scoring chances as the minutes ticked away.

Everton worked it around for Mykolenko to have another go but his side-footed shot lacked power as late Watford subs broke up the tempo.

Into added time and Watford had nothing to lose, Iwobi fouling Gosling. Pickford finally caught the ball and tried to launch and Everton attack, with Gordon almost finding Calvert-Lewin, intercepted by Kabasele for a 12th corner.

Final minute and another Everton corner, horribly overhit by Gordon.

Kick-off: 7:45pm, Wednesday 11 May 2022

Watford: Foster, Ngakia, Kabasele, Samir, Masina, Sissoko, Kayembe (89' Etebo), Gosling, Sema, Joao Pedro, Kalu (86' Cathcart).
Subs: Troost-Ekong, Bachmann, Sierralta, Morris, Cukur, Blake, Grieves.

Everton: Pickford, Coleman [Y:65'], Holgate [Y:20'], Keane, Mykolenko, Delph (81' Allan), Doucoure, Iwobi, Gordon, Gray (77' Calvert-Lewin), Richarlison.
Subs: Begovic, Kenny, Gomes, Davies, Branthwaite, Rondon, Dele.

Referee: Mike Dean
VAR: Michael Oliver

Michael Kenrick

Match Preview

Everton are back on the road for a midweek fixture against Watford that offers them a big opportunity to bolster their chances of remaining in the Premier League beyond this season.

The Toffees' huge win at Leicester on Sunday lifted them back out of the bottom three and finally ended a seven-month wait for a victory away from Goodison Park, meaning they can travel to the already-relegated Hornets with the psychological monkey off their collective back.

Watford's defeat at Crystal Palace at the weekend sealed their fate, sending them back down to the Championship and manager Roy Hodgson looks set to be forced to name a vastly under-strength side due to a raft of unavailable first-teamers.

Former Everton striker Josh King, who, almost inconceivably, scored a hat-trick in the reverse fixture on Merseyside back in October is ruled out along with another former Blue, Tom Cleverley, along with Ismailia Sarr, Emmanuel Dennis, Imran Louza, Juraj Kucka, Kiko Femenia and Nicolas N'Koulou.

Cucho Hernandez was already sidelined with a hamstring issue and Hassane Kamara is now suspended following his dismissal at Selhurst Park but Joao Pedro has an outside chance of being fit to play.

It's the kind of scenario that could pose a banana skin for Everton but Frank Lampard used his pre-match press conference to stress that his players must remain focused on completing the job over the four remaining games.

"The support that we've had since I've been here is incredible. It's ramped up in the last few weeks and we needed that. I think the fans have shown their support, passion and willingness to take part,” the manager said.

“The mood has lifted, but the important thing is to remain balanced as there is still work to do.

“The only message for us, as much as we enjoyed the weekend, is that it's very dangerous to relax on that. As much as we can talk about the fans, the only message for us as players and staff is to finish the job. There's no way we can relax.”

Once again, Lampard will be unable to call on Yerry Mina who picked up a calf injury at the King Power Stadium that could keep out of all bar the game at Arsenal on the final day, while the earliest Ben Godfrey could return is this weekend against Brentford.

That will surely mean a Michael Keane-Mason Holgate central defensive partnership, perhaps alongside Seamus Coleman if the manager elects to persist with his five-man back line with Alex Iwobi and Vitalli Mykolenko as wing-backs.

Whether deployed as a left- or wing-back, Mykolenko looks set to feature after the complaint that forced him off against Leicester proved to merely be a case of cramp.

Elsewhere in the side, Allan could come in for Fabian Delph if Lampard decides to manage the veteran's minutes. Donny van de Beek is ruled out again with a persisting groin problem but could be back for the home game against Crystal Palace in eight days' time.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin has also been withheld from action given the stop-start nature of his return from injury and he might have to be content with a place on the substitutes' bench once again.

While one of Everton's rivals in the relegation dogfight, Leeds United, face a potentially difficult assignment against erratic Chelsea, the Blues must focus on their own game and look to secure all three points to maintain their points advantage down at the bottom of the Premier League.

Kick-off: 7:45pm, Wednesday 11 May 2022
Referee: Mike Dean
VAR: Michael Oliver
Last Time: Watford 2 - 3 Everton

Predicted Line-up: Pickford, Coleman, Holgate, Keane, Mykolenko, Allan, Doucouré, Iwobi, Gordon, Gray, Richarlison

Lyndon Lloyd

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