Dubious peno wrecks Watfords chances

Everton 2 Watford 1

A disgraceful penalty decision wrecked Watford’s first day back in the top flight.

They were behind to a first-half strike from Andrew Johnson on his debut, and had battered Everton for much of the second period.

Then Chris Powell was penalised for handball when he had been clearly struck in the face by Tim Cahill’s cross, and Mikel Arteta fired home the penalty to secure a two-goal cushion. When Damien Francis’ deflected shot beat Tim Howard in the dying seconds, Watford were left to rue that spot-kick howler.