Daily Mail

GRAY MAKES SILVA BLUE

- DANIEL MATTHEWS at Vicarage Road

AWAY from the glare of the cameras, the question was finally put to Marco Silva. After three consecutiv­e defeats, and a punishing return to Watford, is the Everton manager starting to feel the pressure? The answer never came. Instead Silva headed back towards the dressing room. The Portuguese had been under fire all afternoon from the Watford fans, who took particular delight in telling him he faces the sack following Andre Gray’s winner. The atmosphere had been uncomforta­ble at times. In truth, everything in the stands served only to distract from another uninspirin­g Everton display. Silva is not responsibl­e for all of Everton’s ills but under majority owner Farhad Moshiri, they have spent almost £300million. Now they can’t score or defend set-pieces. It’s getting to Silva, who faced down the abuse stoically, but often exploded at his players’ wastefulne­ss in front of goal. Lack of confidence is an issue, but so is the lack of a topclass striker. That can’t be solved in the two weeks before Everton face Cardiff, but the break will serve as a welcome respite for their manager, provided he makes it that far.

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