NEW MANAGER BOUNCE WEARS OFF FOR WATFORD

‘ONE goal for us now is a tragedy, even if we are controlling the match.’

Those were the words of Quique Sanchez Flores on November 30. That night, in the bowels of a dark, dank St Mary’s, Flores looked and sounded like a man en route to the gallows. He had just watched his Watford side surrender three much-needed points in a catastrophic fiveminute spell against Southampton. The Spaniard was sacked the following day. Two months on, so much has changed. Watford are no longer adrift, no longer bereft of confidence. Optimism has grown under Nigel Pearson. And yet, at the final whistle on Saturday, a familiar sense of disbelief swept Vicarage Road. Against Everton, Watford lost a two-goal lead in three minutes. As at St Mary’s, they had been in total control, after goals from

Adam Masina and Roberto Pereyra. In an instant, however, Watford crumbled as Yerry Mina’s brace turned the game. By the time Theo Walcott won it late on, the home side had lost their shape and lost their way. Even a red card for Everton’s Fabian Delph worked against Watford — pressing for a winner, they left themselves open to a counter. Everton accepted the invitation. Flores’ assessment of Watford’s fragility felt prescient. ‘Exceptionally disappointing,’ Pearson conceded. ‘To play very positively in the first 44 minutes, then to come in at 2-2 was very frustrating. We’ve lost at the death again when we had an opportunity to manage the ball better, manage the game better and we didn’t.’ The Watford boss was so happy to talk that Carlo Ancelotti was left waiting outside — much to the Italian’s annoyance. And for the most part, Pearson was defiant. ‘I’m prepared for people going over the top when things are going well and likewise now,’ he said, batting away suggestions that the introduction of Isaac Success had disrupted Watford’s shape. He disagreed that his side had shown naivety in leaving themselves exposed for Walcott’s winner. It was a fair question. And many more will follow. Pearson may be a victim of his early success but the

plasters he applied to Watford’s wounds seem to be coming unstuck. After five games unbeaten, his side have gone four without a win. It is relegation form. Next up is a clash with Brighton. They cannot afford another ‘tragedy’.

WATFORD (4-2-3-1): Foster 5.5; Mariappa 6, Cathcart 5.5, Kabasele 6, Masina 6.5; Capoue 6.5, Chalobah 6 (Welbeck 57min, 5.5); Pereyra 6 (Success 75, 5), Doucoure 6, Deulofeu 6 (Pussetto 82, 6); Deeney 6. Subs not used: Gomes, Gray, Hughes, Holebas. Scorers: Masina 10, Pereyra 42. Booked: Masina, Success. Manager: Nigel Pearson 6. EVERTON (4-4-2): Pickford 6; Sidibe 6.5, MINA 7, Holgate 6.5, Digne 6; Walcott 6.5, Sigurdsson 5 (Schneiderlin 67, 6), Delph 4.5, Iwobi 6 (Kean 65, 6); Calvert-Lewin 6.5 (Keane 73, 6.5), Richarlison 6.5. Subs not used: Stekelenburg, Baines, Bernard, Coleman. Scorers: Mina 45+1, 45+4, Walcott 90. Booked: Mina, Holgate. Sent off: Delph 71. Manager: Carlo Ancelotti 6.5. Referee: Craig Pawson 5. Attendance: 21,229.