Many regarded this game, given Everton‘s horrendous start to the season, as the club’s biggest in the Premier League for a decade.
While that may have been overlooking some of the strong positions the Blues found themselves in under David Moyes and Roberto Martinez in years gone by, the manner of the Toffees’ comeback victory mirrored the famous last-day relegation escapes against Wimbledon in 1994 and Coventry in 1998.
Indeed, it was the first time they had overturned a 2-0 deficit and won since Hans Segers let a scuffed shot from Graham Stuart through his fingertips 23 years ago.
Since those days, Everton haven’t been involved in a relegation scrap of that nature but this game felt similar to those two occasions – and given the jubilation at the final whistle and indeed the emotions on chairman Bill Kenwright’s face, it should not be understated how important this victory is for Everton.
David Unsworth’s first win in four as interim manager now gives him at least a fighting chance of getting the job on a permanent basis, but still, there are plenty of decisions for the Blues hierarchy to make over the international break.
Here, we look at the key talking points from the clash as Everton ease their relegation fears.
EVERTON HAVE TO MAKE MANAGEMENT DECISION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE
Being 2-0 down with just over 25 minutes left to play, long-time Toffees chairman Kenwright and majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri may well have been thinking about how they were going to corner Hornets boss Marco Silva in the corridors of Goodison after the match. The highly-rated Portuguese has been one of the names linked with the club, along with the likes of Sean Dyche and Sam Allardyce, but Sunday’s eventful comeback win has given them food for thought.
Unsworth’s connection with the Toffees, he spent two spells at Goodison as a player and won the FA Cup, has been well-documented – and so has the need for blue blood and a man who truly understands the club to be in charge.
Kenwright and Unsworth were saluting each other at the end of the game and the interim manager’s strong bond with the chairman means he can now not be ruled out of getting the job full-time. Many writers didn’t think they’d be writing that as Everton stared down the barrel of what looked like another defeat in the second-half.
There’s a danger that this win clouds the hierarchy’s thought-process over who they want in charge. For sure, they will be torn between whether they want to think bigger and secure a marquee name (Moshiri’s theory) or rather promote within, in Unsworth.
Phone calls needed: Moshiri and Kenwright have decisions to make.
EVERTON CAN ONLY RELY ON YOUNGSTERS…NOT EXPERIENCE
While Unsworth brought back the likes of Leighton Baines, Wayne Rooney and captain Phil Jagielka for this one after they set out the Lyon debacle, the experienced trio all struggled and looked shadows of their former selfs. Watford’s breakaway second goal, 30 seconds into the second-half, being proof of that when both Jagielka and Baines were caught all at sea.
Rooney’s exit to the sub bench in place of Dominic Calvert-Lewin after 68 minutes when Everton had just nicked a goal back to make it 2-1 went to show how little the former England captain contributed.
Even though Baines converted a crucial spot-kick, defensively, he has really struggled this season as has Jagielka. Both seem to be showing signs of the many miles they have clocked up over the years.
Naturally, Unsworth – the man who guided the club’s under-23 side to the title last season – favours youth, and the youngsters have more than repaid that faith.
It says a lot that Ashley Williams, Morgan Schneiderlin, Kevin Mirallas, Davy Klaassen, Muhamed Besic, among others, were not trusted to be part of this one.
Instead, Calvert-Lewin, the lively sub Ademola Lookman and academy products Tom Davies, Jonjoe Kenny and Beni Baningime showed more guts and spirit than most.
The fact Unsworth knows the club’s young talent like the back of his hand and is prepared to give them a chance is something that works in his favour going forward.
Everton are known for giving youth a chance and they need to carry on in this vein to push up the Premier League table.
Youngster Calvert-Lewin headed home Everton’s equaliser.
OUMAR NIASSE IS EVERTON’S KEY MAN
The forgotten man under Ronald Koeman, the man who was virtually forced out by the Dutchman, once again proved that he simply has to play up front for the Toffees. His passion, work-rate and commitment to the cause – his first and Everton’s opener being proof of that – epitomizes his spirit despite all that he’s been through.
Four goals in six Premier League outings – with only two of those appearances coming from the start – is remarkable in what has been a bleak season for most of the squad. He is technically not the best footballer in the world, far from it, but the 27-year-old has an eye for goal few others possess. Until the January transfer window comes around and another striker is signed, Niasse is vital for Everton as they look to now galvanise some momentum.
It wasn’t pretty but Niasse got the job done in front of goal.
TOM CLEVERLEY MAKES HIS BIGGEST CONTRIBUTION TO EVERTON
The former Manchester United prodigy’s two-year stint at the Toffees was far from memorable and most people were surprised Everton managed to secure around £8million for his services back in the summer. Cleverley had become a boo-boy at Goodison last season but reignited his career at the Yellows.
But having failed to muster a truly memorable moment in a blue shirt, a last-minute winner against Newcastle in December 2015 apart, his last-gasp missed penalty was truly his most significant contribution to the Merseysiders.
Cleverley trudges off the pitch after his missed penalty.