After Sean Dyche's departure, the Scotsman returned to Goodison Park this week, a little less than 12 years after his successful first spell came to an end with him leaving for Manchester United.

But unlike his initial tenure, he could not begin his second with a victory, with Watkins sealing all three points for Villa early in the second half.

The England international raced onto Morgan Rogers's throughball and beat Jordan Pickford to end a run of five successive away league defeats for Unai Emery's side.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin squandered a golden opportunity to equalise when he fired over in stoppage-time, as Villa held on to climb a place to seventh and within three points of the top four.

Meanwhile, Everton remains 16th and just a point clear of the relegation zone.