Troy Deeney strike proves the difference as Watford get revenge against Everton over Marco Silva

A season of turmoil and increasing alienation from the Watford way, Troy Deeney struck a let winner against Everton and re-connected an ailing team with its supporters.

A match that lurched between languid sideways passing and extravagantly wayward shooting, Deeney evoked memories of last season with a good old-fashioned swivel and shot 10 minutes from time.

Their win maintained Watford’s separation from the relegation pack and left the home fans believing that safety may only be another two victories away.

By contrast, Everton still have that nagging doubt that a late-season swoon could lure them back into a relegation scrap for which, on this evidence, they look ill-equipped.

Unambitious in the opening 70 minutes against a side struggling to forge its own belief, Sam Allardyce’s side had only themselves to blame for a defeat that in many ways more miserable than their recent trouncings in north London at the hands of Tottenham and Arsenal.

Watford’s new head coach Javier Gracia wasn’t about to denigrate Everton’s poor performance. For him, it was about accentuating the progress made in his brief tenure at Vicarage Road.

Gracis said: “I am very happy today because we got three very important points against a very good team.

"It was a very tough game. We knew it would be, but most important today was that we work a lot during all the match and we wait and take our moment to score a good goal.

“I am very proud of my players because I think we deserved the three points.

"Troy is very important to us on the pitch and out of the match. I could say many good things about him but, for me, is the captain."

The first half was almost devoid of goalmouth action, save for an early Oumar Niasse dribble which ended with a square ball into the area deflected towards goal by Adrian Mariappa.Watford keeper Orestis Karnezis made a smart reaction save.

At the other end, the otherwise excellent Etienne Capoue struck a shot so high and wide in response that it almost missed the large Everton contingent behind the goal completely

Each side wasted headers early in the second half. First Michael Keane headed harmlessly wide from Idrissa Gana Gueye’s cross, despite having time and space to pick his spot.

Then a run and cross from Roberto Pereyra created the chance for Deeney to head at goal, from where Jordan Pickford stretched to save.

Gracia then changed Watford’s shape to give them two strikers, and it was substitute Stefano Okaka whose right-wing cross found fellow forward Deeney in front of goal. A swift turn and a powerful strike did the rest.

Okaka almost doubled Watford’s lead with a low shot towards the bottom corner before in a stoppage-time scramble at the other end, Everton went close to salvaging a draw.

Keeper Jordan Pickford came forward for a corner, won the header and substitute Cenk Tosun turned the ball goalwards, forcing a desperate, diving save from Karnezis.

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For Allardyce, the difference was Deeney. He said: “They had somebody who can finish and we didn't.

"We ended up giving a goal away we should have avoided. It was a really good finish from Deeney though.

"Our best chance fell to Michael Keane who had a header from three yards out - don't know how that went wide of the post."

"I was pleased with the overall performance, but in the final third we could have done a lot more.

"When you play away from home in these games they can be scrappy. At this time of year, teams look over their shoulders to see where they are.”