Watford vs Everton: The Marco Silva derby arrives with more than just pride on the line

Watford vs Everton: The Marco Silva derby arrives with more than just pride on the line
It was inevitable. Its always inevitable with Watford.As soon as Christian Kabasele leapt with his hand in the air, needlessly conceding a free-kick just outside the area, there was no chance Everton were not going to score.Right on cue, Lucas Digne stepped up and curled a superb finish into Ben Fosters net, scoring the fourth goal of the game to rescue Everton a point.8

Digne’s superb free-kick rescued Everton a point against Marco Silva’s former side

It was the sixth minute of injury time.Almost two months have passed since Watford visited Goodison Park to write the latest chapter in the drama that concerns the two clubs the drama of Marco Silva.The tale begins with the sacking of Ronald Koeman, who was dismissed by Everton in October 2017 after the club slipped into the relegation zone.A couple of weeks later Everton had an approach for Silva firmly rejected by Watford, beginning a saga which rumbles on as a Premier League investigation into an alleged illegal approach continues.And then, on November 5, came the nadir.8

There were certainly fireworks at Goodison Park that fateful Bonfire Night

It was another trip to Goodison Park which began the unravelling, the slow and uneasy fall from grace.Watford looked certain to win as they went two goals ahead with just 25 minutes remaining, but Heurelho Gomes was taken off injured and Orestis Karnezis had a debut to forget as his replacement.He was at fault as Oumar Niasse halved the deficit for the hosts, before conceding twice more in a second half that last 58 minutes. Dominic Calvert-Lewin grabbed an equaliser with Leighton Baines netting a penalty at the start of injury time, sending Everton ahead for the first time in the match.8

Watford had only themselves to blame for their collapse at Goodison Park

There was still time for more drama, however, with Tom Cleverley later missing a spot kick of his own.Watford left Merseyside empty-handed, and that was the beginning of the end for Silva.They may have won their next two matches, but fans never truly trusted Silva again, and after just one win in 11 matches he was shown the door.8

Calls for Silva to leave started shortly after the defeat by Everton

Watfords statement made it very clear who they blamed.The Club is convinced the appointment of Silva was the right one and had it not been for the unwarranted approach by a Premier League rival for his services we would have continued to prosper under his leadership, it read.Sam Allardyce was already in the Everton dugout by this time, but he was sacked and replaced by Silva last summer no one was surprised.8

Silva has been branded a ‘snake’ for taking the Everton job, and Watford fans taunted him earlier this season

Under pressure but not at risk of losing his job, talkSPORT has learned Silva has already spent longer with Everton than either Watford or Hull, the first club he managed in England.This longevity, in relative terms, may suggest Silva is doing a fine job at Goodison Park.Such suggestions are wrong. Everton supporters are already turning against him with just four wins in the last 15 matches one of which came against League Two Lincoln in the FA Cup.The late, late draw with Watford came early in that run, while the Toffees have also failed to beat relegation battlers Newcastle and Southampton, and they were knocked out the FA Cup by Championship strugglers Millwall.8

Just how long can Silva survive the pressure?

As with his spell at Watford, which turned on that November defeat at Goodison Park, Silvas Everton career can be defined by two eras pre-Merseyside derby and post-Merseyside derby.Things were moving along so nicely before Jordan Pickford gifted Divock Origi the latest of goals, and Liverpools win appears to have affected Silva, his players and seemingly the whole of Everton.8

Everton’s season appears to have swung on Pickford’s Merseyside derby blunder

Toffees fans, like the Watford fans before them, are starting to lose faith in Silva, and suggestions he is a case of the Emperors New Clothes have returned.The limp and passionless performances of recent weeks show a man who cannot fix that which has all gone wrong, and this weekends return to Watford – which you can listen to LIVE on talkSPORT – is about more than just pride.Watford want to get one over their former manager and Silva would love to the same to his one-time employer, but if things go wrong on Saturday for the Hornets there will be no serious ramifications simply disappointment.8

Javi Gracia is gunning for victory over the man he replaced at Vicarage Road

For Silva, much more appears to be on the line.If he cannot inspire his players at Vicarage Road amid taunts and abuse from the Watford faithful he will never be able to do it anywhere, and that, more than anything, should have Everton chiefs worried.talkSPORT brings you full live commentary of Watford vs Everton on Saturday, January 9, kick-off 3pm. Click here to listen online, or tune in via the talkSPORT app, DAB or your radio on1089 or 1053 AM

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