More Rich pickings as Silva’s signing proves worth weight in gold
HAVING said scoring at the death against Swansea City last weekend was the stuff of dreams, Brazilian Richarlison yet again turned into Watford’s hero.
The 20-year-old £11.2million summer signing saved his side in the fifth minute of stoppage time against West Bromwich Albion, who threw away a 2-0 lead at the Hawthorns.
After Abdoulaye Doucoure got Watford back into the game, it was a Jose Holebas cross that Richarlison met to make it 2-2, silencing the home support. It was not without controversy, with West Brom boss Tony Pulis feeling the free-kick that led to the leveller was not a foul and that too much time was played.
Even so, at the final whistle, every Watford player went to the 2,700strong away support to throw them their shirts. They sit fifth in the Premier League and Silva has installed a feelgood factor.
‘We showed big character, big personality, big spirit,’ Silva said. ‘Everybody believes. He (Richarlison) is a huge talent. An amazing boy, a worker. He wants to improve, to learn. He never gave up.
‘When I told our board that I want him, I had analysed him for a month. I saw in him different things that are not normal in Brazilian football. I believe in him.’
West Brom thought they had the win courtesy of Salomon Rondon’s first strike of the season and a header by Jonny Evans.
It is the first time this season they have scored more than once in a Premier League match and Pulis used his post-match press conference to take aim at referee Michael Oliver. ‘The challenge from (James) McClean is fair,’ Pulis said. ‘He plays the ball. It’s one that’s gone against us. It’s disappointing. Very disappointing. He played a minute over too. He gave four, and they’ve scored in the 95th minute.’
After a slow start, West Brom scored out of the blue in the 18th minute.
A ball over the top by Paris Saint-Germain loanee Grzegorz Krychowiak gave Rondon something to chase. He used his strength to shrug off Christian Kabasele before scoring from the tightest of angles.
Less than two minutes later, Kabasele came close to slicing a cross into his own net. It went out for a corner instead and, from the subsequent cross, West Brom made it 2-0. Watford’s Doucoure tried to clear at the near post but only sent the ball to the back, where Evans was waiting to head home. The visitors handed themselves a lifeline before half time when Doucoure broke through and finished via a deflection from Evans.
Silva introduced Andre Gray as a last roll of the dice with 15 minutes remaining but it was Richarlison who saved them. McClean’s challenge on him was ruled a foul, Holebas crossed from the free-kick and the youngster headed home. Watford missed out on making it four away wins on the trot but, thanks to Richarlison’s equaliser, their bubble didn’t entirely burst here.