Out of trouble: ‘We have total belief in him’

other and as that unity takes root, you grow more as a team.

“The manager has brought some brilliant players in and he’s laid good foundations. We’re right behind him.”

Everton’s record of two draws and 11 defeats in the 13 games where they have fallen behind this season suggests they are illequipped to chase games.

But Keane claims there is no mental block, adding: “In a few games this year maybe it looks like we’ve gone into our shell after conceding. It’s something we need to work on, but above all maybe we need to make sure we score first and make the running.”

Everton insist Watford’s winner, sub Andre Gray’s fifth goal of the season, came from a half-cleared corner which should never have been awarded.

To compound Silva’s misery, defender Kurt Zouma was sent off after the final whistle for giving referee Lee Probert verbals. Keane raged: “It’s so frustrating – it was such a bad decision leading to their goal because it was never ever a corner. We’ve had so many bad refereeing performances this season it’s become a bit of a joke.”

As for Watford’s naughty playlist, Silva suspects the “strategy” to unsettle him came from beyond the dressing room and Hornets captain Troy Deeney’s unguarded remarks at a fans’ forum.

He said: “They prepared the music? It was clear, the strategy during the week was not a players’ or manager’s strategy.

“It was a good strategy to create something to get everyone going. But people who know me know how serious I was when I worked here. They know the truth and that’s important to me.”

Police made four arrests after two Watford fans were detained in hospital with facial injuries when trouble erupted in a cemetery near the ground after the game.