KING IS HAT-TRICK HERO AS MIRACLE MAN RANIERI’S SIDE HAMMER EVERTON
CLEARLY, Claudio Ranieri can still perform miracles. Who else but the title-winning Leicester manager could inspire a Watford team beaten 5-0 last weekend to score four times in the final 12 minutes and record a famous win at Goodison Park.
Not only that, the Italian pinned his faith in Joshua King as his main striker and the former Evertonian grabbed a hat-trick, having previously gone 29 league games without a goal.
Everton were hit by injuries, notably Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Abdoulaye Doucoure, but
Rafa Benitez’s side began the weekend in the European places and are normally solid.
They even took the lead after 130 seconds through Doucoure’s deputy Tom Davies and although Watford levelled with King’s first after 15 minutes, it appeared normal service had been resumed when Richarlison came off the bench, having missed five games with a knee injury, and headed the home side back in front.
It was then that Ranieri acted, sending on Emmanuel Dennis and Joao Pedro after 64 minutes.
It took until the 78th minute for Watford to level when Juraj Kucka headed in Cucho Hernandez’s outswinging corner.
Dennis ran Lucas Digne ragged before crossing for King to put the visitors ahead after 80 minutes.
Incredibly, there was more to come with the Norwegian international then completing his treble with some fancy footwork.
To cap it off, Dennis deservedly got his name on the scoresheet at the end from Joao Pedro’s pass.
By then, most Evertonians had deserted. Those who stayed booed their team mercilessly but then sportingly applauded the visitors for their display which takes them well clear of the relegation zone.
‘Even when Richarlison scored to make it 2-1, I had a feeling we would get something out of the game,’ said King. ‘When we scored the equalising header, the belief just grew.’
Ranieri was naturally delighted with the team’s character. ‘Our mood must be never to give up and our reaction after losing an early goal was very satisfying,’ he said. ‘To score three times in nine minutes to change the game was amazing.’
The afternoon had started well for Everton when Davies timed his run perfectly to turn in Demarai Gray’s centre.
Anthony Gordon and Andros Townsend went close to making it 2-0 but Everton received their first warning sign in 15 minutes when Craig Cathcart flicked on Adam Masina’s cross and King applied the finishing touch.
Benitez was booed for his decision to take off winger Gordon after an hour, though the fans were pleased to see Richarlison returning, particularly when he guided in Michael Keane’s cross to put the Blues ahead.
Watford might have felt sorry for themselves, but they kept going. Their spirit and character were rewarded when Kucka powered in an equaliser.
Most of their fans would have taken a point at that stage but when Ranieri is the manager and knows how to pull off 5,000-1 title wins, it’s no surprise his Watford player went for all three — and got them.
Of own his team’s performance: Benitez groaned: ‘Mistake after mistake.’