WATFORD 1 EVERTON 0
TROY DEENEY derailed Everton’s attempts to break into the top seven and give the Watford board a bittersweet victory over their Merseyside rivals. The boardroom would have been a fascinating place at Vicarage Road following Everton’s attempts to lure away former manager Marco Silva from the Hertfordshire club back in November. Watford were clearly not happy after the Blues wanted permission to speak with Silva about replacing Ronald Koeman, but were knocked back in their advances. Everton went on to appoint Sam Allardyce (left), but the speculation clearly affected Watford as they managed just one win in 11 league games and blamed the Toffees’ “unwarranted approach” as a major factor behind the club’s demise. The Hornets would have been desperate Karnezis 8, Janmaat 8, Mariappa 7, Prodl 7, Holebas 7, Capoue 7, Doucoure 7, Pereyra 5 (Okaka 55, 9), Deulofeu 6 (Carrillo 62, 6), Richarlison 5 (Femenia 55, 6) Deeney 8.
Gomes, Britos, Gray, Zeegelaar.
Pickford 6, Kenny 6, Keane 6, Williams 6, Martina 6, Walcott 5, Davies 6, Gueye 6, Rooney 6 (Calvert-Lewin 81), Sigurdsson 5 (Bolasie 81), Niasse 6 (Tosun 55, 6). Robles, Schneiderlin, Holgate, Garbutt Anthony Taylor 7. ■■Everton have registered just one win in their last 22 Premier League away games (D9 L12), losing each of the last four. ■■After picking up 10 points in his first four Premier League games as Everton boss, Sam Allardyce has seen his side accrue just nine in the last 10. ■■Watford had to wait until the 55th minute to register their first shot on target of the game, via a Troy Deeney effort (there had only been one before that from Everton). ■■Deeney scored from open play for the first time in his last 27 Premier League games (v West Brom April 2017).