Chris Kavanagh
Attendance:
20,067
Watford unable to seal top ten finish in final day loss to West Ham United
Watford vs West Ham United: Jose Holebas to miss FA Cup final after sending off in heavy Hornets defeat
Javi Gracia confirms Watford to appeal Jose Holebas sending off in West Ham United defeat
Individual player ratings for Watford’s heavy final day defeat
Jose Holebas will be available for the FA Cup final after red card is rescinded
Ross Barkley’s goal settled Everton’s meeting with Watford after the build-up to the match was dominated by uncertainty over the midfielder’s Goodison Park future.
Ross Barkley brushed aside speculation about his future to fire in Everton’s winner in their 1-0 victory at home to Watford on Friday night.
Watford were more ambitious than of late with Stefano Okaka’s considerable presence causing a tremor each time he ran at Phil Jagielka. Wing back Jose Holebas also enjoyed himself against Mason Holgate and expected more when tricking his way down the left wing and delivering a cross demanding a thudding header from Adrian Mariappa from six yards. The defender did not oblige and ball rebounded harmlessly over Joel Robles crossbar. 
Ronald Koeman had demanded a show of responsibility from Ross Barkley and the Everton midfielder obliged at Goodison Park: not with the requested decision on his future but with a match-winning display against Watford.
Daryl Janmaat’s early shot was deflected behind off Ashley Williams for a corner and Troy Deeney’s low drive into the Everton six-yard area caused momentary panic. Stefano Okaka was then, inexplicably, allowed the space to pick up the ball on the halfway line and advance to the edge of the Everton area before unleashing a shot that flew just off target.
A Friday night in Liverpool? The luxury lifestyle of a football fan! Although at first glance a Friday night game may have been seen as an inconvenience, we should be thankful, as this gives us all the free time we need to enjoy the greatest night of the year, Eurovision!
If you’ve come for a calm, balanced perspective on things you’ve come to the wrong place. Surely nobody with a vested interest is capable of anything approaching objectivity this evening, in the context of the quite extraordinary last eight days… your best qualified candidate for this is in Cornwall, of all places, so you’re stuck with me. And just a few hours ago I was shuffling up a dazed Occupation Road with a bouncing six year old proclaiming that we were “definitely going to win the final. For certain. If they score a hundred goals, we’ll score a thousand….”. That result, for one, is no longer in doubt, but don’t expect cold analysis here. We’re far too far gone for that.
Troy Deeney scored Watford’s aggregate winner in an extraordinary finish to their Championship play-off semi-final against Leicester. Twenty seconds after Anthony Knockaert had a debatable penalty saved at the other end, Deeney thumped in a shot.
Watford put themselves within touching distance of the Premier League after an extraordinary climax to their Championship play-off semi-final, which was decided by Troy Deeney’s 97th-minute goal.
A quite astonishing finish to this play-off semi-final second leg saw the game swing from apparently certain success for Leicester to a Watford victory in less than 20 seconds.
