This was a result that ultimately satisfied both parties. Another point in Everton’s attempt to avoid relegation for the first time in more than 70 years was not exactly what Frank Lampard would have wished for before the game, but at this stage of the season he will take everything he can get. With home games against Brentford and Crystal Palace and now a two-point cushion over Leeds, Everton’s fate remains largely in their own hands.
“I’m relatively happy – if you can’t win, don’t lose,” Lampard said. “We have to be balanced. Then there was a sense of frustration in the locker room, but if you had offered us this situation a few weeks ago, we would have bitten off your hand. ”
For Watford, just ending a series of 11 consecutive home defeats in the league when Roy Hodgson finally took his first point here was enough to satisfy their long-suffering supporters. “I didn’t know how many people were coming tonight, but they supported us in a really good way,” Hodgson said.
Prior to that game, Lampard insisted that the stakes in Everton’s relegation battle were higher for him than any of his Premier League titles with Chelsea, as his team sought revenge for Goodison Park’s 5-2 defeat in October. Their task certainly seemed simpler thanks to Hodgson’s decision to make seven changes from the country that started against Palace on Saturday, with Ismail Sar, Joshua King and Emmanuel Dennis not even on the bench, which contained three teenagers.
But despite self-confidence victories over Chelsea and Leicester, Everton never seemed to find a way past Ben Foster, even when Lampard threw himself against Dominic Calvert-Lewin in the last 15 minutes and Watford fans were the ones to applaud the final referee signal. with joy. Since Hodgson’s departure has already been agreed, they are already making plans for their lives in the Championship next season, after confirming the appointment of Rob Edwards – 35 years younger than Hodgson – as the next manager amid the complaints of Forest Green Rovers that the negotiations are behind them.
In addition to choosing the Watford team, hearing the famous Z-Cars anthem, which greeted the countries before the start, had to help Everton feel at home. Denied the services of Jerry Mina, Lampard recalled Michael Keane at the heart of his fifth defense and he nearly gave Watford the lead by missing the clean-up after Jordan Pickford resigned.
Frank Lampard reminded Michael Keane of Everton’s trip to Watford. Photo: Matthew Childs / Action Images / Reuters
And yet, while the traveling supporters were in full voice behind Watford’s goal, their team struggled to pose a threat. The promising car options of Demaray Gray, Richardson and Alex Iwobi proved null and void, while a volley from Anthony Gordon, who entered the stands, summed up their problems in attack.
After a tumultuous first half, the most likely source for the goal seemed to come from Joao Pedro of Watford, who, like Richardson, joined the club from Fluminense, but has not yet had the same effect. Pickford was quickly out of line to beat the lively Brazilian striker to a long ball minutes after the restart. Richardson then called on Ben Foster in serious action for the first time when his shot on goal was deflected by Christian Cabazel.
Samuel Kalou’s free pass gave Gray a golden opportunity, but he failed to hit the target after a quick exchange of passes with Iwobi.
Keane managed to direct his header toward the corner door, just to get Foster together. Lampard had reason to look relieved then, when only a final blow from Seamus Coleman prevented Watford from breaking away.
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Hodgson responded to the introduction of Calvert-Luin by pulling Kalu for defender Craig Cathcart, a move that had the desired effect. The closest to grabbing Everton’s points was a shot by Vitaly Mikolenko, who was easily parried by Foster to ensure that Watford avoided extending the most unwelcome record.
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