Early Bernard goal earns nervy Everton win over Watford

Soccer Football - Premier League - Everton v Watford - Goodison Park, Liverpool, Britain - August 17, 2019 Everton's Richarlison in action with Watford's Troy Deeney and Jose Holebas Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith

LIVERPOOL, England (Reuters) - An early goal from Bernard was enough for a nervy Everton to beat Watford 1-0 at Goodison Park on Saturday to secure them their first Premier League win of the season.

Everton got off to the perfect start as the ever-impressive Lucas Digne picked out Bernard on the left, the Brazilian cut inside before firing home in just the 10th minute -- his first Premier League goal at Goodison Park.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Everton v Watford - Goodison Park, Liverpool, Britain - August 17, 2019 Watford's Ben Foster in action with Everton's Dominic Calvert-Lewin REUTERS/Jon Super

In response, Watford came close to an equaliser in the 24th minute but Craig Dawson saw his header bounce off the crossbar.

The Video Assistant Referee was then called into action as Watford looked for a penalty, but Yerry Mina's challenge on Gerard Deulofeu was deemed to be fair.

After the break, Everton continued to be careless in possession, with Jordan Pickford making a fine save with his face to deny Troy Deeney following a swift Watford counter.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Everton v Watford - Goodison Park, Liverpool, Britain - August 17, 2019 Watford's Danny Welbeck in action Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith

Watford pressed for an equaliser but Everton stood firm to pick up their 10th clean sheet in their last 13 league games and earn Marco Silva a victory against his former club.

"We got an important win," Silva said. "It was important to start winning at home in our first game.

"Keeping a clean sheet is always important even though our mentality is to play offensive football."

Soccer Football - Premier League - Everton v Watford - Goodison Park, Liverpool, Britain - August 17, 2019 Everton's Mason Holgate and Yerry Mina in action with Watford's Danny Welbeck Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith

Digne missed a chance to score early after dragging his shot wide but then produced a superb long-range pass to pick out Bernard for the opener -- a goal Watford goalkeeper Ben Foster could have done better with.

After Pickford thwarted Deeney’s effort with his face, the home fans kept getting frustrated with the team’s wayward passing.

New Everton recruit Moise Kean should have doubled the score but he shot wide late on with the goal at his mercy.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Everton v Watford - Goodison Park, Liverpool, Britain - August 17, 2019 Watford's Troy Deeney in action with Everton's Jordan Pickford and Yerry Mina REUTERS/Jon Super

"I am disappointed with the result but not the performance," Watford manager Javi Gracia said.

"In my opinion we deserved something. If you don’t score in the moment when you dominate the game then you get punished."

Soccer Football - Premier League - Everton v Watford - Goodison Park, Liverpool, Britain - August 17, 2019 Watford's Danny Welbeck in action with Everton's Michael Keane and Seamus Coleman Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith

(Reporting by Peter Hall, editing by Pritha Sarkar)

Soccer Football - Premier League - Everton v Watford - Goodison Park, Liverpool, Britain - August 17, 2019 Everton's Theo Walcott in action with Watford's Ben Foster REUTERS/Jon Super

Soccer Football - Premier League - Everton v Watford - Goodison Park, Liverpool, Britain - August 17, 2019 Everton's Bernard in action with Watford's Craig Dawson Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith

Soccer Football - Premier League - Everton v Watford - Goodison Park, Liverpool, Britain - August 17, 2019 Everton's Jean-Philippe Gbamin in action with Watford's Etienne Capoue Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith

Soccer Football - Premier League - Everton v Watford - Goodison Park, Liverpool, Britain - August 17, 2019 Everton's Seamus Coleman in action with Watford's Troy Deeney Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith