Everton 3-2 Watford: Instant Reaction | I’m Sorry, What?

EVERTON WON A GAME ON THE ROAD. EVERTON WON A GAME AFTER GOING DOWN TWO GOALS. THEO WALCOTT FINALLY SCORED A GOAL. THAT WAS ALL VERY STRANGE, SORRY ABOUT THIS RECAP BUT I NEED TO GO LIE DOWN.

Everton traveled to the home of the fake Z-Cars this afternoon and participated in what may have been their strangest match of the season. Carlo Ancelotti welcomed Gylfi Sigurdsson, Richarlison, and Alex Iwobi back into the starting lineup, but an appalling first half led to a 2-0 deficit.

Gerard Deulofeu created a goal for Adam Masina before Roberto Pererya scored off a Fabian Delph turnover. Speaking of Delph, it was by my estimation his worst game in an Everton shirt. By far. Not only did he create a goal for the Hornets, but he was lackadaisical, reckless, and made a bigger impact for the home side than his own. Also, he was sent off in the second half to effectively kill any chance Everton had of getting all three points. Great job!

Photo by Jonathan Brady/PA Images via Getty Images

It wasn’t quite all bad, as Yerry Mina executed a kind of reverse Newcastle during stoppage time in the first half. He bundled a Lucas Digne corner over the line after reacting quickest, and immediately followed that up mere seconds later by firing a header into the net following a Sigurdsson corner.

That sequence drew the match level but neither team really would come close to scoring again. Watford remembered that they’re terrible, and Everton remembered that they’re Everton. Everyone, in the end, found their level.

It doesn’t matter who the manager is, or how the lineup is constructed. Everton continue to struggle on the road. Everton continue to struggle against bad teams, and they continue to struggle after falling behind. No progress will ever be made until these are fixed.