Premier League: Late Deeney goal gives Watford victory over Everton

Everton manager Sam Allardyce speaking to MOTD:

On the goal: It’s only our fault. It could’ve been avoided quite easily. There was hesitation between Wayne Rooney and Cuco Martina in the build up to the goal, and if you give Troy Deeney that much room in the box, he generally he scores.

On the result: It looked like a well-deserved draw, so bitterly disappointing result. In the final third we didn’t cause them any problems.

When you get chances like Will Keane’s from three yards out and you don’t score you know it’s not your day.

On their performance: The players have to take more responsibility and say to themselves ‘If we can’t win, don’t lose the game’. And it wasn’t great play from Watford for the goal, it was our poor defending. We let Watford get at us and they full capitalised.

Watford captain Troy Deeney speaing to BT Sport:

On the match: "It was a two teams desperate not to to lose, with the way the table is. We don’t want to lose a home game and Everton want to keep a gap from the bottom."

"I have to say our fans were fantastic. It was a dire game, but they stuck with us and deserve it."

On scoring from open play for the first time this season: "I’m not remotely bothered. Stats for everyone else. It's about performances for the team. It doesn’t matter if I don’t score as long as I’m contributing."

On his goal: "I'm just happy to get a goal. Kiko Fermina should’ve passed before, but that one was definitely getting smashed."

On the importance of the win: "This win only matters if you follow it up. We’ve got West Brom next week and there’s no point winning 1 and losing three or four. There are 10 matches left, 30 points up for grabs, so need more wins."

On the quality of the match: "It was just two team desperate not to lose, no one wanted to be the first to make a mistake. Not great viewing. I hear the rugby on so they might have watched that instead."

On receipt of his man of the match award:" I’m the best of a bad bunch!"

Everton boss Sam Allardyce speaking to BT Sport: "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.

"In our final third we couldn't find anything.

"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.

"Our final third play was the big disappointment - goals overall have been our problem this season.

"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."

Watford boss Javi Gracia: "It's a very big win today. I want to thank our supporters.

"I'm very proud of our team today - we played a very, very good match.

"Troy Deeney is the captain. He's a very important on the pitch and off the pitch.

"We worked hard in the whole match, but in the good moment for us we took advantage and scored.

"We had more shots on target in the game. We knew it would be a tough match and it was tough.

"Like I've said, I don't know how many points are needed for survival I just focus on the next set of points."

There are some great blunt comments from Troy Deeney coming up...

We are waiting on the managers for the ol' manager reaction bit we do.

Hold on because it'll probably be more entertaining than the match itself.

I'm guessing a few Everton fans are not happy with Sam Allardyce's management?

Meanwhile, there's a fan inside the stadium holding up a sign that simply reads 'Troy Deeney'. Straight to the point.

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Jordan Pickford is up for a corner....

He gets his head to the ball...

There's scramble in the area...

Orestis Karnezis collects.

We are into stoppage time.

There's probably too much of it.

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Stefano Okaka has made a difference since coming on. He was involved in the goal and he has just put Everton under pressure working alongside Troy Deeney.

Watford players are starting to show for the ball more now.

Jose Holebas wins a corner for Watford. It should be Everton winning a corner at this stage...

There are less than three minutes [of normal time] left of this pulsating encounter!

David: What has happened to Ashley Williams? He was terrible for that goal

Phil: Big Sam has to go at the end of the season. Everton fans can't have a full season of this negative style. Start the hunt for the new manager please!

Stefano Okaka looks twice the size of anybody else on that pitch.

And he's been effective.

That had been coming. Ashley Williams is two or three yards off Troy Deeney as he turns in the penalty area and his shot gave Jordan Pickford no chance.

A poor clearance from Pickford which hit Deeney gave Watford that momentum. Had Kiko Femenía squared to Deeney instead of shooting they might have scored moments earlier.

ReutersCopyright: Reuters

Chris: Season ticket holder at Everton for over 30 years and this is the most boring, uninspiring football I've seen. Can't wait to be mathematically safe and be able to get rid of Sam Allardyce and bring in a proper coach.

Jon: So many games under Allardyce have been atrocious to watch this season. Get rid in the summer and bring in someone who isn't against shots on target

Big Sam's about to shake things up...

He's bringing on Morgan Schneiderlin