Brave start by Watford ends with penalty controversy
So far, eight sides promoted to the Premiership through the play-offs have been relegated in their first season, a statistic that provides a good measure of how quickly the joy at winning a place in the élite can be dissolved. Watford, the latest to ascend via that route, know full well that the road to survival will present difficulties enough without the kind of fate referee Peter Walton dealt them yesterday.
The newcomers conceded a goal after 15 minutes as Andrew Johnson scored on his Everton debut and survived a spell of heavy pressure late in the first half but looked the better side in the second and had every reason to believe they could force an equaliser. When Damien Francis put his name on the score-sheet in the 90th minute, it was a just reward. The Independent
Dubious penalty hands Everton a win
Everton won a first-day home game for the first time in 10 years as Watford left Goodison Park feeling robbed.
Chris Powell appeared to block Tim Cahill's cross with his head nine minutes from time but referee Peter Walton decided it was handball, and Mikel Arteta made it 2-0 to Everton after Andrew Johnson marked his league debut for the Toffees with a goal.
Damien Francis' deflected strike in the final minute meant that but for the controversial penalty, Watford could have marked their return to the top flight with a point. The Daily Mail