Watford Vs Everton Review: Okaka stars in Hornet's win
The Toffees travelled to travel to Vicarage Road in the early kick off of this Premier League's action. Both sides named strong starting 11's with Everton top scorer Romelu Lukaku leading the line for Koeman's side and Troy Deeney, who was still searching for his 100th Watford goal, led the line for Watford.
The match started off as a slow burner with neither team creating any real goal scoring opportunities. However, in the 17th minute Gareth Barry, the forever present in Everton's midfield, played a fantastic first time ball into the box and Lukaku made it 8 Premier league goals this season as he coolly finished past Gomes to end his goal drought.
Watford responded well to the goal and dominated possession. Deeney done well to win a header against Williams from a long kick up the pitch and the ball fell to the feet of Okaka who then played the ball out to the right wing to Amrabat. He then swung a teasing low cross into the box which met the run of Okaka, who carried on his run. He lost the Welshman Ashley Williams far too easily in the box, but nothing could be taken away from the finish. He flicked the ball to the far post with his trailing right leg which left Steklenburg with no chance. This was a deserved equaliser for Watford and a great way for Okaka to score his first for the club.
Watford pressed on and dominated the rest of the 1st half, with Amrabat and Okaka particularly impressing the home support. Deeney could have completed his century for the Hornets if it wasn't for Everton full back Coleman putting him off at the vital moment. Everton looked like they were just waiting for the half time whistle, where as the home side wouldn't have wanted to stop playing.
The 2nd half started in a similar fashion to the 1st with both teams failing to do much to excite their fans. Baines did put the ball in the back of the net in the 51st minute but it the offside flag had already been raised.
Watford went up a gear after this and there dominance was rewarded in the 59th minute when the huge frame of the Austrian Sebastian Prödl leaped highest from a free kick on the left taken by Holebas to plant the ball in the back of the net for his first of the season. It was almost 3-1 a few minutes later. Another set piece was played in and Britos was denied by a fantastic save from Steklenburg.
However, from the following corner, taken by Holebas, Okaka won the header at the near post and this time Steklenburg couldn't keep it out. Another goal for the energetic Okaka was bound to please Watford manager Walter Mazzarri, but Ronald Koeman must be fuming with his sides inability to defend set pieces throughout the game.
Ross Barkley came on and had a half chance but it was deflected wide. Not much got the fans out off their feet after the 3rd goal until Okaka was substituted off and received a standing ovation from the home support, who will be hopeful to see more of the same from the striker.
It looked like Watford were cruising to a comfortable victory until Lennon, who had only come onto the pitch 5 minutes prior, put in a cross which met the head of Lukaku, who confidentially placed the header into the corner of the goal, to set up a very exciting end for the neutral, but not such a comfortable ending for Watford.
From Lukaku's 2nd goal it was an Everton onslaught, reflected in Watford's 20% in the final 10 minutes. It wasn't as relaxed an end as Mazzarri would have liked but Watford crossed the finishline with 3 points. It's 2 wins on the trot for them and a first win in almost 30 years against Everton. However for Koeman's side it's not looking as bright, with only one wins in their last 10 Premier league outings and with Deulofeu not looking at all convincing in Bolasie's absence.
