Everton boss Marco Silva refuses to answer whether he is feeling the pressure

In the bowels of Vicarage Road, away from the glare of the cameras, the question was finally put to Marco Silva.

After three straight defeats, and a punishing return to Watford, is the Everton manager starting to feel the pressure?

The answer never came.

Everton boss Marco Silva didn’t answer when asked whether he is starting to feel the pressure

Instead Silva headed back towards the dressing room, his navy suit intact but the lofty reputation he built here hanging by a thread.

The Portuguese had been under fire all afternoon from the Watford fans, who took particular delight in telling him he faces the sack following Andre Gray’s winner.

But it was the stadium DJ who set the tone, with Al Wilson’s ‘The Snake’ among their pre-match playlist. That came as news to Silva, if not as a surprise.

‘Watford prepared the music?,’ he asked. ‘It was clear of the strategy during the week and for sure it was not a players’ strategy or a manager’s strategy – it was something more than that.

‘To be honest with you, my opinion is that it is a good strategy when you create something for everyone to all go in one way.

‘Eighty to 90 per cent of the people don’t really know the truth.’

Silva said ‘Eighty to 90 per cent’ of people don’t know the truth about his Watford departure

The atmosphere had been uncomfortable times and the arrest of four people after two men were hospitalised following a fight near the ground added another ugly chapter to a miserable afternoon.

But in truth, everything in the stands and outside the stadium served only to distract from another uninspiring Everton display – and a fifth defeat in six matches.

And their fans could be forgiven for asking why? Why is such a fuss being made over a manager overseeing this catastrophic campaign?

Silva is not responsible for all of Everton’s ills but under Farhad Moshiri they have spent almost £300million. Now on his watch they can’t score or defend set-pieces.

It’s getting to Silva, who faced down the abuse stoically, but often exploded at his player’s wastefulness on the ball and in front of goal.

They have conceded 19 goals from dead balls, scored once in three matches and had nine shots in targets in that time.

Everton’s Richarlison struggled to make a major impact on his return to Watford

Richarlison struggled on his return to Watford, with Silva admitting his ‘was not a good performance’ and that Everton’s toothlessness is a ‘concern’.

‘I knew before I came in that this team has problems creating chances. We changed it in the first months of the season but now we are having problems to create again and it is up to us to find ways to change.’

A ‘lack of confidence’ is an issue, but so is their lack of a top-class striker.

The latter can’t be solved in the two weeks before they face Cardiff, but the break will serve as a welcome respite for their manager – provided he makes it that far.