Everton 2 Watford 1: Everton won a first-day home game for the first time in 10 years as Watford left Goodison Park feeling robbed.

Chris Powell appeared to block Tim Cahill's cross with his head nine minutes from time but referee Peter Walton decided it was handball, and Mikel Arteta made it 2-0 to Everton after Andrew Johnson marked his league debut for the Toffees with a goal.

Damien Francis' deflected strike in the final minute meant that but for the controversial penalty, Watford could have marked their return to the top flight with a point.

Francis, along with Powell and Danny Shittu, made their competitive debuts for the visitors, while there were two on-loan Manchester United goalkeepers on the pitch in Ben Foster and Everton's debut man Tim Howard.

Blues boss David Moyes opted to leave another of his summer purchases, Joleon Lescott, on the bench and stuck with Alan Stubbs alongside Joseph Yobo at the heart of the defence

Everton's record signing Johnson got himself on the scoresheet as early as the 14th minute, as his new partnership with James Beattie worked a treat.

Beattie flicked on to Johnson, combined again with his strike partner with the return which allowed the former Crystal Palace man to stride between three defenders before lifting a shot over Foster into the top corner, under considerable pressure.

Watford sent on Hameur Bouazza and American defender Jay DeMerit at the interval for James Chambers and Adrian Mariappa, and within minutes of the restart Lescott came on for his debut for Nuno Valente, who had suffered a knee injury in the first period.

Adrian Boothroyd's side showed no signs of accepting defeat as they stormed forward with pace and power.

Everton needed something to change the course of the half, and sent on James McFadden for Simon Davies and teenager Victor Anichebe for Beattie.

On 79 minutes Hungary international Tamas Priskin came on for Henderson, fresh legs to aid King up front.

But two minutes later Watford were the victims of a terrible injustice as Powell was penalised for his block on Cahill's cross.

The crowd behind the ball bayed for a spot-kick although television replays showed the ball clearly hit Powell full in the face, nowhere near his hands.

Arteta stepped up to strike home the penalty and what might have been an equaliser from Francis proved to be mere consolation.