Everton climbed out of the Premier League relegation zone with a thrilling 3-2 win over Watford.

Richarlison had handed the visitors the lead barely 30 seconds into the second half, slotting past Jordan Pickford after Andre Grey teed him up.

Christian Kabasele doubled the Hornets’ advantage less than 10 minutes later when he out-jumped Phil Jagielka to power home from a corner.

But David Unsworth’s side pulled a goal back courtesy of a brilliant run and finish by Oumar Niasse offered renewed hope for the home side.

They were back level when substitute Dominic Calvert-Lewin headed home a Leighton Baines corner at the far post in front the Gwladys Street.

Aaron Lennon was hauled down by Jose Holebas in the penalty to allow Baines to converted from 12 yards at the very end of normal time.

Further drama followed in 12 minutes of stoppages as Richarlison was hauled down but Tom Cleverley missed the ensuing penalty against his former club.

Here were the key talking points from Goodison:

Niasse wins over Goodison again

 

Snap’s ‘Rhythm is a Dancer’ is fast becoming the soundtrack of Everton’s season and goes hand-in-hand with Oumar Niasse as its saviour.

From the first whistle, the previously maligned Senegal international chased every ball in his viscinity and mercilessly hounded Watford’s defenders.

Bursting through the Hornets’ defence to reduce the deficit just minutes after the visitors went further ahead merely complimented his repertoire.

It proved the catalyst the home crowd needed in a game which, Jonjoe Kenny aside, had lacked any real personality or grit from its own players.

Evertonians had already been endeared by Niasse’s ability to dig their side out of successive mid-September mires but he has taken it to another level again.

If ‘Rhino’ isn’t the answer, who is?

 

A job which was previously out of David Unsworth’s hands is again his to lose.

Three defeats as Everton caretaker cannot be forgotten but a remarkable second-half fightback should offer a new-found level of perspective.

The Premier League’s relegation zone remains in touching distance but, crucially, is no longer the Blues’ current forwarding address.

Neither Sam Allardyce nor Sean Dyche had done much to stir Evertonian imaginations and their names will do even less so after this performance.

Farhad Moshiri was offered a reminder of exactly what it is Everton require.

That may not be Unsworth in the long-term but he is proving to be a better fit than the underwhelming ‘survival specialists’ in the running alongside him.

Proof a little width goes a long way

 

Chief among the accusations for a currently dismal run of form has been Everton’s reluctance to embrace players operating in wide roles.

A borderline aversion to wingers played a part in Ronald Koeman’s demise but against Watford, they showed just why a little width can go a very long way.

Ademola Lookman’s introduction after the interval opened up a previously limited outlet for the hosts and, arguably, ignited that second-half revival.

It was also Aaron Lennon’s foray which proved a handful for Jose Holebas and which paved the way for Leighton Baines’ decisive 90th-minute penalty.

Playing down the flanks was a trait of Everton sides in days of yore and while the current crop are a far cry from them, they can still follow in those footsteps.

History on Baines’ side, even if time isn’t

 

Leighton Baines may have seen the writing on the wall for his Everton career but the left-back can at least bow out with his name in the record books.

The England international’s vital spot kick was a 24th successful conversion and one which guarantees his place in Goodison’s annals of history.

In doing so, Baines moved ahead of both Trevor Steven and even Unsworth himself to become Everton’s most prolific penalty taker of all time.

Although time is no longer on the defender’s side, with his 33rd birthday fast approaching, there can be zero dispute about his abilities from 12 yards out.