Silva hails Samba star as Hornets snatch point
transfer policy to them. But last night after the 20-year-old had capped a virtuoso display by heading the 95th-minute goal that snatched a point, Silva’s stubborn streak looked more than justified.
It was the second week in a row he scored in injury time – last time to grab a win at Swansea and this time to rescue a draw after first-half goals by Salomon Rondon and Jonny Evans had put Albion two up.
Silva said: “When you have an idea as a coach, you have to try to put in the club the players you believe in.
“It’s important everyone knows my ideas, the players I want. For me, only this way makes sense.
“Our board analyse everything in the market as well but with this player, this is what happened.
“He is a huge talent, an amazing boy, but he is also a worker. Every day in the training sessions he wants to improve, to learn.
“When I told our board that I wanted him, I had analysed him for a month. I saw in him different ■■This was the first time that West Brom failed to win a Premier League match in which they were two goals ahead since nearly two years to the day (WBA 2-3 Everton, September 28, 2015). ■■Before today, Watford’s Premier League record in the 52 games that they have found themselves two goals down was W1 D0 L51 – the only other time that they have picked up points in a PL game after being two down was in a 4-2 away win at West Ham last September.
Cleverley forces his way through to set up Carrillo – who heads over an open goal from six yards. things that are not normal in Brazilian football. I believe in him.”
It was Richarlison who won the free-kick from which he headed home a Jose Holebas cross.
And he also supplied the touch that set up Abdoulaye Doucoure’s strike at the end of the first half that brought the Hornets back into the game. Watford had fallen behind after 18 minutes when Grzegorz Krychowiak’s flighted long ball sent Rondon clear to shake off a feeble challenge by Christian Kabasele.
And then a Matt Phillips corner brushed off the head of Adrian Mariappa to set up Evans.
But Silva’s side fought back for their point, although Albion boss Tony Pulis felt they were lucky to get the free-kick which led to Richarlison’s goal.
Pulis said: “It shouldn’t have been a free-kick because James McClean got the ball and was nowhere near the player.
“It’s very disappointing because the referee had a good view of it.”