Kone Denies Watford Victory

Watford were travelling to Everton as underdogs, as a lot of people expected the Toffees to take all three points from the Premier League new boys.

The Hornets handed debuts to six out of ten of their new signings, as Etienne Capoue and Valon Behrami were the two midfielders slotting into a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Jurado playing behind Deeney, and Jose Holebas, Allan Nyom, Sebastien Prodl joined Cathcart in the back four. Anya and Layun were also involved, as Gomes continued his goalkeeping duties from last season.

The game kicked off and it was an even match for the vast majority of the first ten minutes, which included Everton earning a free kick.

It was on the fourteenth minute that the Everton away end and the whole of Mexico erupted, as Miguel Layun got his first goal for the club, as he was in the right place at the right time, as he slot the loose ball in the box powerfully into the back of the net.

This gave Everton a massive wake up call, as Gomes was called into action to save a Gareth Barry header, along with having several efforts well wide off the target.

Just before half time, Deeney was sent into the book, after sliding into Galloway late inside the Everton box, some would see that as a red but it was only a yellow card in the eyes of referee Mike Jones.

The half time whistle came and it was the new Premier League boys who were leading up at Goodison Park, which is something that the Toffees didn’t see coming.

As the second half got underway, there was no changes for either sides.

The first piece of action came after the opening five minutes of the second half, as Gomes was forced to tip a Mirallas cross over the bar, and Lukaku missing a golden opportunity, blasting a header wide at the far post, from a Ross Barkley cross.

Watford made their first change of the season, as the goalscorer Miguel Layun was replaced by Juan Carlos Paredes on minute number sixty, with Brendan Galloway being replaced by former Wigan striker Arouna Kone a few minutes after for the home side.

Watford then looked to extend their lead further, as Jose Holebas from left back unleashed a shot which warmed the palms of Tim Howard, only for Deeney not to be able to reach the rebound.

After several threatening attacks from Everton, they finally found the equaliser as Ross Barkley unleashed a rocket of a shot past Gomes, after Behrami failed to clear the ball from the area.

The Hornets then looked to make an immediate response, as new signing Jurado was replaced by Watford’s twenty goal man from last season, Odion Ighalo, and ten minutes later, he did just that, as he weaved his way around the edge of the area, dodging challenges from John Stones and Phil Jagielka to fire past Tim Howard and revive the Hornets lead up at Merseyside.

However, Everton had other ideas, and just three minutes after, Watford lost their lead again as another substitute in Arouna Kone managed to get on the end of a through ball and slot pass Gomes on the right hand side of the area.

This was then the last piece of action, and to say the least, most Watford supporters would have been pleased with a draw before kick off, but to lose the lead twice after a magnificent display from Flores’ men is disappointing.