Everton manager Marco Silva says he wants Goodison Park to be “a fortress” after his side’s fifth straight home win against Watford.
Bernard’s goal after just 10 minutes was enough to give Everton their first victory of the 2019-20 season.
The Toffees have not conceded at home since they lost 2-0 to Manchester City on 6 February.
“My style and my philosophy is I like to play offensive football. Keeping clean sheets is important,” said Silva.
The Hornets are on a poor run having won just one of their last eight league matches, and have yet to score in this campaign.
They came closest to equalising when Craig Dawson’s header hit the bar, following Bernard’s shot that beat keeper Ben Foster at his near post.
Watford improved after the break, but Abdoulaye Doucoure missed late on.
Troy Deeney had been denied by a fine save from Jordan Pickford earlier in the second half, when the Watford captain went one-on-one with the Everton keeper.
And a Deeney shot that deflected off Michael Keane set up Doucoure inside the Everton area only for the midfielder to pull his shot wide.
Everton striker Richarlison had two good chances to score against his former club with headers but missed both, while substitute Moise Kean rolled a shot just wide of Foster’s right post in second-half stoppage time.
Toffees tough to crack at home
Everton have become an increasingly tough proposition on their own turf under former Watford manager Silva, and have now won five in a row at Goodison for the first time since Ronald Koeman’s reign in April 2017.
Their back four of Lucas Digne, Michael Keane, Yerry Mina and Seamus Coleman seem to be a settled unit, and it was the impressive Digne who set up the game’s only goal with a superb long pass from deep inside his own half.
And the late addition of recent signing Kean gave them an added edge in attack, with the 19-year-old using his size and strength to worry the Watford defence.
A first chance for the Italian was blazed wide, but his miss in injury time after a lovely piece of close control was much closer to the target and bodes well for when Silva chooses to give him longer appearances.
Slow start punishes Hornets
Watford’s journey to the FA Cup final in May papered over the cracks of a subdued second half to last season, when a 2-1 win at already-relegated Huddersfield gave Javi Gracia’s side their only victory in their final seven league outings.
This defeat was the Hornets’ sixth in a row, factoring in their humiliation at the hands of Manchester City at Wembley.
But the frustration for manager Gracia will lie in his side’s slow start that allowed Everton to edge ahead, which was followed by a much-improved display late in the first half and for much of the second.
“I think we deserved a better result,” said Gracia. “We had more possession and more shots on target, we dominated some spells but we didn’t score and we need to try better next time.”
Danny Welbeck made his Watford debut as a second-half substitute, and while the former Manchester United and Arsenal player made little impression, Gracia will be hoping the 28-year-old England striker will be up to speed soon to give some much-needed cutting edge.
The Watford manager added: “I am happy for him because he was a long time injured and today was his first game. I am happy with his performance and I am sure he will help us in the future.”
The slow start to the season is in contrast to last year when Watford won their first four matches – but have since accrued 38 points from 36 league outings.
Man of the match – Digne (Everton)
More woe on the road for Watford – the stats
- Everton have won five consecutive Premier League home games for the first time since a run of eight under Ronald Koeman in April 2017.
- In the top-flight, Watford have collected five points from a possible 75 in 25 away games against the two Merseyside clubs (Everton and Liverpool), winning one, drawing two and losing 22 of those games.
- Everton have kept six consecutive clean sheets at Goodison Park in the Premier League for the first time since a run of seven between March and September 2013.
- Watford boss Gracia has lost six consecutive matches in all competitions for the first time in his managerial career.
- With a run starting with a 71st-minute West Ham strike through Marko Arnautovic in May, Watford have conceded 12 goals in all competitions without reply.
- Amongst defenders, only Liverpool full-back duo Trent Alexander-Arnold (14) and Andrew Robertson (11) have been directly involved in more Premier League goals than Everton’s Digne (nine – four goals and five assists) since the start of last season.
- Watford defender Jose Holebas has received a yellow card in 35% of his Premier League appearances (36 in 102) – of players with at least 50 appearances in the competition, only Cheick Tiote has a higher ratio (38% – 52 in 138).
‘Fortress Goodison’ – what the managers said
Everton boss Silva, speaking to BBC Sport: “The three points were the most important thing. We scored a goal and did not concede and that was important for us. Looking at the whole picture I think we deserved the win.
“Of course the second half I would like the performance to be better but it is the first home game of the season. I think we had more big chances than them to score.
“With a second goal you are more safe. We want to make Goodison our fortress.”
On Kean’s cameo: “Was tough for him. He had that big moment to make an impact and put his stamp on the game. He didn’t score but he is a boy and he should improve and should know better our team in time.”
Watford boss Gracia, speaking to BBC Sport: “I think today we had our performance and we were close to getting a better result.
“They scored from a long ball, an individual action. We were a little bit unlucky because our defender touched a little bit their shot. We then hit the crossbar, we had good performance but didn’t take the chances and they won the game.
“We need to improve many things but there were many positives today.”
What’s next?
Everton face Aston Villa at Villa Park on Friday, 23 August at 20:00 BST, while Watford are next in action when they take on West Ham at Vicarage Road on Saturday, 24 August at 15:00 BST.
