Everton’s boss Silva has last laugh over ex-club Watford
LIVERPOOL: Marco Silva had the last laugh against his former club Watford as Everton defender Lucas Digne’s last-gasp free-kick rescued a dramatic 2-2 draw at Goodison Park on Monday.
Everton manager Silva was facing Watford for the first time since his acrimonious departure from Vicarage Road in January.
The 41-year-old was sacked by Watford after less than a year in charge, with the club’s owners blaming Everton’s interest in the Portuguese coach for distracting him from his job.
Convinced he treated them disrespectfully by showing interest in Everton, the Watford fans who travelled to Goodison Park waved inflatable snakes and directed abusive chants at Silva. With just seconds to go, it seemed Silva would be bitten by his old employers.
Everton’s Richarlison, signed from Watford by Silva, put the hosts ahead in the first half.
Seamus Coleman’s own goal drew Watford level after the break and Abdoulaye Doucoure’s header put them in front before Everton midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson had a penalty saved by Ben Foster.
But Digne came to Silva’s rescue in the sixth minute of stoppage-time to deny Watford the revenge they so badly wanted.
Insisting he didn’t care about silencing the Watford taunts, Silva said: “Of course not. I didn’t see anything. It’s not important to me.What I can control is my players.
“It’s a difficult match to talk about. We lost our focus completely for their goals.”
Silva made it clear last week he was unsentimental about facing his old club.