Scrappy point may save Everton
Every point counts at this stage of the season, especially in a scrap to avoid a calamitous relegation, although Everton will surely feel that it should have been more. This draw with relegated Watford moved them a small step closer to safety, thanks in large part to Leeds United’s defeat elsewhere, but their battle is far from over.
Three points against an understrength and lowly opponent would have all but ensured Everton’s safety. Instead, they remain within reach of both Leeds and Burnley. Time will tell how damaging this failure to win at the ground where almost every other team has won this season might prove to be.
It was hardly an encouraging performance, either, with Everton struggling horribly to fashion clear chances against limited opposition. Once again, the same question came to mind: how are these players not offering more?
After back-to-back victories over Chelsea and Leicester City, the clouds had begun to clear over Goodison Park. This solitary point does not bring all them back, as it still represented progress of sorts, but the overall showing was a reminder of why Everton are in the position they are: their lack of imagination was obvious throughout.
There will not have been many worse games this season, in terms of technical quality at least. Roy Hodgson was without almost all of his best attackers, which served as an excuse of sorts for Watford’s own difficulties. For Everton, such explanations were not so easy to find.
“It was not the best game to watch,” Frank Lampard, the manager, said. “But that is the nature of the position we are in. It is a point gained, on paper that is what it is. I am relatively happy – if you can’t win, don’t lose. I sense the frustration, within the dressing room as well. But if you had offered this situation a few weeks ago, we would have taken it. That’s a big plus.”
By the end, the Watford fans took pleasure from simply winning possession, and indeed surrendering it a few seconds later. “We’ve got the ball,” they roared, before inevitably following that with a tweaked version: “We’ve lost the ball.”
Watford might have hoped that the appointment of a new head coach for next season would provide a lift, although it is evidently difficult to think of a bright new future when the grim old present is so demoralising. There were empty seats all over Vicarage Road and little discernible enthusiasm until the second half, when the home fans began to embrace the situation. Rob Edwards, prised from Forest Green Rovers to lead Watford next season, will not have learned much.
Not only are Watford already relegated, but they were also without a series of first-team players. It was a cobbled-together team, featuring three academy players – including a 16-year-old scholar – on the bench.
Watford came into this on a run of 11 consecutive home defeats. In fairness to the fringe players, though, there was an element of pride and competitiveness to performance that might easily have been missing.
“I was expecting a far worse performance than the one I saw,” Hodgson said. “It is an evening that many of these boys can be really proud of, and maybe tomorrow they will be asking why I have not selected them more often.”
After a painful first half, Everton had little choice but to push more aggressively. Step by step, they started to take control. Michael Keane twice went close, while Demarai Gray missed the best opportunity of the game when he fired wide after a smart exchange with Alex Iwobi. The arrival of Dominic Calvert-lewin did little to sharpen them up, with the players looking increasingly drained. Everton were without an edge, and without many ideas, but did ultimately leave with a point. Perhaps that will be enough.
Watford (4-3-3) Foster 6; Ngakia 6, Kabasele 7, Samir 6, Masina 6; Sissoko 7, Kayembe 6 (Etebo 89), Gosling 6; Kalu 5 (Cathcart 86), Pedro 6, Sema 6. Subs Bachmann (g), Troost-ekong, Sierralta, Morris, Cukur, Blake, Grieves.
Booked Samir.
Everton (5-4-1) Pickford 6; Iwobi 7, Coleman 7, Keane 6, Holgate 6, Mykolenko 6; Gordon 6, Doucoure 6, Delph 6 (Allan 81), Gray 6 (Calvert-lewin 77); Richarlison 6.
Subs Begovic (g), Kenny, Gomes, Davies, Branthwaite, Rondon, Alli Booked Coleman, Holgate.
Referee Mike Dean (Wirral).