10-man Everton seal remarkable comeback win at Watford

Soccer Football - Premier League - Watford v Everton - Vicarage Road, Watford, Britain - February 1, 2020 Everton's Theo Walcott scores their third goal REUTERS/David Klein

Everton fought back from two goals down at Watford to earn a 3-2 win with just 10 men, prevailing in a dramatic finish to an entertaining Premier League contest on Saturday between two sides who are looking re-energised under new management.

After starting their stirring comeback with two first-half stoppage-time goals from Yerry Mina, Everton were a man down for the final 20 minutes after Fabian Delph was sent off for a second yellow card foul.

Despite being under the cosh, Theo Walcott sealed the most unlikely of wins, tapping in after a lightning 90th-minute counter-attack with a winner that leaves Watford still struggling one place from the bottom of the league.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Watford v Everton - Vicarage Road, Watford, Britain - February 1, 2020 Everton's Yerry Mina and Theo Walcott celebrate after the match REUTERS/David Klein

The victory demonstrated Everton's new-found vigour under the management of one of Europe's top managers, Carlo Ancelotti, who enthused on BBC: "The spirit is really good.

"We are really happy for our fans because to win these away games is really good for our confidence."

Watford's own impressive revival under the stewardship of Nigel Pearson had earlier looked set to continue as they went two up through Adam Masina's 10th-minute goal, his first in the Premier League, and Roberto Pereyra's smart 42nd-minute finish.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Watford v Everton - Vicarage Road, Watford, Britain - February 1, 2020 Everton's Theo Walcott scores their third goal REUTERS/David Klein

Yet Everton struck back with two goals in three minutes just before the break, with their unlikely saviour being the Colombian defender Mina.

Having struck in the first minute of added time when he bundled the ball home after a goalmouth scramble, he then headed in the equaliser on the stroke of halftime.

Ancelotti conceded that Everton had been somewhat fortunate to get back in the game but, after the break, his side looked the more threatening until Delph's expulsion for two yellow card offences in the space of a quarter of an hour.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Watford v Everton - Vicarage Road, Watford, Britain - February 1, 2020 Everton's Theo Walcott celebrates scoring their third goal REUTERS/David Klein

The Italian felt Delph's second yellow was a harsh one. "I think it was the wrong decision by the referee," he said.

"I think we were lucky to score at the end. Football is so unpredictable. We were looking to go home with a draw because we had 10 men but we did a fantastic counter-attack."

Soccer Football - Premier League - Watford v Everton - Vicarage Road, Watford, Britain - February 1, 2020 Watford's Abdoulaye Doucoure in action with Everton's Mason Holgate Action Images via Reuters/Matthew Childs

(Reporting by Ian Chadband; Editing by David Holmes and Christian Radnedge)

Soccer Football - Premier League - Watford v Everton - Vicarage Road, Watford, Britain - February 1, 2020 Everton's Jordan Pickford in action with Watford's Troy Deeney Action Images via Reuters/Matthew Childs

Soccer Football - Premier League - Watford v Everton - Vicarage Road, Watford, Britain - February 1, 2020 Everton's Yerry Mina scores their first goal Action Images via Reuters/Matthew Childs

Soccer Football - Premier League - Watford v Everton - Vicarage Road, Watford, Britain - February 1, 2020 Everton's Yerry Mina in action with Watford's Troy Deeney Action Images via Reuters/Matthew Childs

Soccer Football - Premier League - Watford v Everton - Vicarage Road, Watford, Britain - February 1, 2020 Watford's Roberto Pereyra in action with Everton's Lucas Digne REUTERS/David Klein

Soccer Football - Premier League - Watford v Everton - Vicarage Road, Watford, Britain - February 1, 2020 Everton's Yerry Mina in action with Watford's Troy Deeney REUTERS/David Klein

Soccer Football - Premier League - Watford v Everton - Vicarage Road, Watford, Britain - February 1, 2020 Watford's Nathaniel Chalobah in action REUTERS/David Klein

Soccer Football - Premier League - Watford v Everton - Vicarage Road, Watford, Britain - February 1, 2020 Everton's Theo Walcott celebrates scoring their third goal REUTERS/David Klein