Steve Watson's injury-time winner earned Everton a place in the fourth round as Watford captain Robert Page paid a double penalty for a moment of madness.

The home side looked like hanging on to the lead given to them by Tommy Mooney's 21st minute strike despite the visitors' second-half fightback.

But Page was then dismissed for a second bookable offence and from the resulting free-kick Stephen Hughes smashed an unstoppable left-foot drive past Alec Chamberlain.

Joe-Max Moore was then also sent off for a second bookable offence but with time running out Watson glanced in Niclas Alexandersson's cross to spark a second minor pitch invasion from the travelling fans.

Walter Smith's side had taken just one point from their last six Premiership games and cynics suggested it would not be much of a shock if Graham Taylor's rejuvenated side registered a win.

And the Hornets went the right away about doing just that in a lively opening spell buoyed by winning their last two league games to get their promotion dreams back on track.

Everton's Stephen Hughes had the first effort on target on three minutes but his left foot shot was comfortably held by Chamberlain and seconds later the in-form Tommy Mooney flashed a snapshot wide of Thomas Myrhe's goal at the other end.

Former Spurs player Allan Nielsen then almost got a telling touch on the end of Neil Cox's deep cross as the home side began to build some momentum.

Indeed Watford would probably have taken the lead but for a telling interception by Watson, the full-back sliding in to take the ball off Mooney's toes as he prepared to shoot after collecting Gifton Noel-Williams' through ball.

It came as no surprise therefore when Watford took the lead after 21 minutes, although Everton were guilty of failing to clear their lines when they had the chance.

Neil Cox's long ball was aimed towards Noel-Williams but Michael Ball got their first only to head the ball behind him.

Ball and Naysmith still had an opportunity to clear but the gangly Watford striker beat them to the second header and steered the ball into the path of Mooney who needed just one touch to flick it past Myrhe for his third goal in five days.

The visitors still only had Hughes' early shot to their name and when Hughes tried to release Ferguson with a beautiful crossfield ball, the Scottish striker's mis-control summed up the Toffees afternoon so far.

Everton's frustration began to boil to the surface and Watson was booked for a foul on Nielsen on the edge of the area on 36 minutes with Pembridge following him into Styles' notebook.

Despite being second best throughout they could still have gone in level when Hughes and Ferguson exchanged a neat one-two. The former Arsenal midfielder shot across the face of Chamberlain's goal.

Hughes' misery was then complete when he was booked for a foul on Nielsen just before the interval. After seeing such a dearth of attacking ideas in the first half Walter Smith brought on Joe-Max Moore for Cadamarteri at half-time but Everton had to survive a spell of Watford pressure before enjoying their own best spell of the game.

That spell offered plenty of genuine chances with Ferguson the first to reach Alexandersson's pass, the former Scotland international forcing a save at the near post.

At the other end Robinson saw his left foot drive fly over the bar before Robert Page and Moore became the latest to receive a yellow card from Styles.

The home side then came close to doubling their lead on 67 minutes as Noel-Williams flicked on Robinson's free-kick but Myhre was alert to the danger and tipped the ball over the bar.

Everton threw everything forward, Alexandersson seeing his shot parried by Chamberlain and Watson heading just wide from a corner.

But it looked like Watford would hold on until a moment of madness from captain Page cost his side dear.

Having already been booked for a foul on Moore, Page then repeated the offence on the same player as he tried to play a one-two with Ferguson and referee Styles had no option but to show a second yellow card.

Page's punishment was then doubled in no uncertain fashion when from the resulting free-kick Hughes smashed an unstoppable left foot drive past Chamberlain into the top corner.

Everton's moment of triumph was nearly ruined by a minor pitch invasion as some of their excellent travelling support got a little over-excited and things were getting equally heated on the pitch.

It took just three minutes for the numbers to be evened up as Moore kicked the ball away after being flagged for offside, the referee again having no option but to brandish a second yellow.

A replay looked on the cards but with time running out Watson glanced in Alexandersson's cross to spark a second minor pitch invasion from the travelling fans and stun the home crowd into silence.

Teams:

Watford: Chamberlain, Cox, Kennedy (Steve Palmer 85), Robinson, Ward, Page, Vernazza, Nielsen, Mooney, Smith,Noel-Williams (Helguson 79).

Subs Not Used: Hyde, Wooter, Baardsen.

Sent Off: Page (81).

Booked: Page. Goals: Mooney 21.

Everton: Myhre, Steve Watson, Ball, Pembridge (Tal 79), Weir, Naysmith, Alexandersson, Hughes, Gravesen (Gemmill 89), Cadamarteri (Moore 45), Ferguson.Subs Not Used: Unsworth, Simonsen.

Sent Off: Moore (84).

Booked: Steve Watson, Pembridge, Hughes, Moore, Gravesen.

Goals: Hughes 82, Steve Watson 90.

Att: 15,635

Ref: R Styles (Waterlooville).