- Deeney’s 80th minute goal was 3rd shot on target for either team
- Yes, we’re serious
- Everton just 1W-5D-8L away from Goodison Park
Troy Deeney’s late goal moved Watford to within a point of woeful and ninth place Everton in a 1-0 win at Vicarage Road on Saturday.
The win avenged a 3-2 loss at Goodison Park earlier this season, and Everton is 2W-2D-4L since Dec. 30.
Watford now has 34 points, while Everton has 35.
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An early free kick from Gylfi Sigurdsson was sent to the back post, but did not find a receiver.
The better part of the first half hour was physical if haphazard, and an Idrissa Gana Gueye slide from behind gave Watford a free kick from 25 yards.
Gerard Deulofeu hit that into the wall.
Tom Davies was the next to just miss on a chance, unable to reach a searching back post ball for Everton in the 53rd minute.
Watford raced to the other end, and Troy Deeney’s looping header didn’t have enough gusto to beat Jordan Pickford at the back post.
Stefano Okaka’s introduction threatened the lively up the game, but it took some time as much as the Vicarage Road crowd tried to inject life into a sloppy affair.
Kiko Femenia saw a late chance provided and denied by Pickford, who then collected a low effort from Daryl Janmaat.
Deeney then found Watford’s moment, lashing a shot past Pickford when found by Okaka in the 80th minute.
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27 - Troy Deeney scored a goal from open play for the first time in his last 27 Premier League games (v West Brom April 2017). Thumped.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 24, 2018
[ MORE: Full lineups, stats, box score ]
