The free-kick is put into the penalty area for Doucoure but Shelvey clears it – only as far as Deulofeu on the edge of the area. The Spain winger dinks the ball back into the box, once again looking for Doucoure but the substitute sends his header wide of the post from inside the six-yard box, though it wouldn’t have counted anyway as the midfielder was offside.
90' +1
F. Schär gets yellow.
Schar drags Success to the floor and earns himself a late yellow card. Newcastle have a free-kick to defend!
88'
Ritchie takes a short corner-kick to Atsu who fires in a cross immediately from a different angle, though Mariappa is there to make the intervention and clear it.
86'
Yedlin has a clean strike at goal from distance after Rondon’s lay-off, but his well-taken hit clears the post and fails to trouble the goalkeeper.
82'
A. Doucouré has scored a goal for Watford! Assist by Deulofeu.
Deulofeu’s cross is the assist for Watford’s equaliser!
DOUCOURE’S HEADER HAS THE SIDES LEVEL AGAIN! 1-1! The substitute makes the difference as Ritchie stands off Deulofeu, allowing him to send a cross into the penalty area for the midfielder to latch onto and finish with a well-taken header. Schar was nowhere near his man and allowed the goal to be finished quite easily! Benitez cannot be happy with that lax defending!
79'
J. Shelvey enters the game and replaces I. Hayden.
Benitez throws Shelvey into the fray, replacing Hayden.
78'
J. Holebas enters the game and replaces A. Masina.
Holebas replaces Masina on the flank with just over 10 minutes left.
76'
Masina clips a cross into the penalty area looking for Doucoure, but Dubravka comes out to attempt a punch which he miscues horribly. Luckily for the goalkeeper, his defence is in a good position to force a poor follow-up shot which is saved comfortably.
74'
Deulofeu is absolutely furious as his free-kick cannons off the wall and springs up for an easy Dubravka catch. Watford players protest that a hand was used in the block – but replays suggest that is untrue. Another free-kick in a glorious position goes begging for the hosts who are looking increasingly frustrated.
Minute
Description
72'
Success is once again down on the pitch after Schar comes through the back of the striker in an ill-fated attempt to win the ball. Another Watford free-kick in a great position is upcoming, as it’s in a central position just outside the penalty area.
70'
Masina plays a lovely cross-field pass looking for Deulofeu, who is unable to bring the ball down and control it as Newcastle bring it clear and into Watford’s half. Ritchie has a sight at goal and opts to strike it, forcing Foster to palm it down before making the simple catch. It was certainly worth a hit from that range.
68'
A Newcastle attack ends prematurely as Rondon is unable to get his hand out of the way of the ball’s trajectory, giving Watford a free-kick in their own half.
66'
D. Yedlin gets yellow.
Success wins a slightly fortunate free-kick after being apparently brought to ground by Yedlin. Replays suggest the right-back did grab a handful of jersey and tug the striker down – fully warranting his yellow card.
64'
Perez is not happy as Capoue drags down the forward who was in his own half defending. There are less than 30 minutes remaining, and Newcastle have been tight and resilient with the lead – as expected. They aren’t offering a lot going forward, but Benitez seems confident his side can hold the lead, and the three points.
62'
Success leads a blistering counter-attack before passing the ball off to Pereyra. With open options streaking to his right, a simple pass is all that’s required, but the midfielder gets his angles wrong and a Newcastle defender comes across to cut out the danger and halt the attack.
60'
Success gets into the penalty area and has options to his left, but he slips during an attempt to shield the ball from Schar and now Watford have cheaply given away the ball in a good position!
58'
Ritchie receives a lay-off from Rondon on the left and attempts to play a throughball forward for Hayden and Perez – but both stop their runs unexpectedly as Newcastle give away possession sloppily.
54'
A. Doucouré enters the game and replaces Domingos Quina.
T. Deeney enters the game and replaces W. Hughes.
Quina is replaced by Doucoure as Gracia looks to change things up and spark a comeback.
It's two substitutions at once as club captain Deeney comes on for Hughes who has not had his best match from a creative standpoint.
53'
Pereyra seemingly dribbles past the whole of Newcastle’s right flank before cutting inside and losing possession to Rondon who is deep in his half to defend. Benitez has the whole side working together to hold the lead, and it’s showing.
51'
Ritchie’s corner is taken with accuracy to the forehead of Rondon, who can only steer his chance over the crossbar thanks to tight marking from Mariappa.
50'
Ritchie delivers a deep cross from the left which fails to meet the head of Rondon, but Newcastle have it once again after a poor Watford clearance. The hosts are being pinned back to start the second half, as the Magpies look intent to double their advantage.
48'
Pereyra takes it but the wall once again does its job and repels the shot. It’s another wasted opportunity for Watford.
47'
Diame drags Hughes down from behind, right outside the penalty area. Watford have a dangerous set-piece and could open the second half with a goal from this distance.
46'
F. Schär enters the game and replaces F. Fernández.
Fernandez is replaced by Schar in a half-time switch for Newcastle.
Watford get the match restarted from the kick-off!
45' +4
HALF-TIME: WATFORD 0-1 NEWCASTLE.
45' +3
The set-piece is taken, looking for Mariappa but Fernandez makes amends and hammers a headed clearance – to the point where he goes down momentarily clutching his head. Realising the immediate danger, he gets back to his feet and helps his team clear it fully, ending the half.
45' +2
Success uses his strength to hold off Fernandez as he enters the penalty area with the ball, but the defender’s last-ditch slide tackle puts the shot over the crossbar and out for a corner.
45' +1
The fourth official indicates that there will be an additional three minutes at the end of the first half. Can Watford find a way to go into the interval level?!
45'
The free-kick is floated towards the far post in search of Lascelles, but Capoue once again puts himself in the middle of the action and clears the danger.
44'
A. Masina gets yellow.
Yedlin is taken down by Masina’s outstretched leg and the Watford left-back is shown a yellow card for his lazy challenge. The free-kick is in a crossing position – can Newcastle double the advantage?
40'
RONDON SCORES BUT IT’S OFFSIDE! The linesman had his flag up immediately as Yedlin plays a cross from outside the penalty area which Rondon connects with beautifully, at full-stretch. It could have been 2-0, but the striker was just unable to hold his line – much to his frustration.
38'
Masina tugs back the jersey of Rondon cynically, giving Newcastle a free-kick deep in their own half which eliminates any chance of a counter-attack.
34'
The Newcastle midfielder has gotten up and is able to continue playing, but the referee was right to stop the action as it was a clear head injury which was ailing Hayden.
31'
Well, with 15 minutes left in the first half, Watford somehow find themselves behind. Despite having three more shots than their opponents, and dominating possession and passing statistics, Gracia needs to find a way to dig themselves out of this hole and penetrate a defence that can be stingy when it wants to be.
29'
S. Rondón has scored a goal for Newcastle United! Assist by M. Ritchie.
Ritchie's cross was hit with pinpoint accuracy - and he knew it too - celebrating before the ball had hit the back of the net. It's Rondon's goal, but it's Ritchie's assist.
NEWCASTLE SOMEHOW TAKE THE LEAD! 1-0 TO THE VISITORS! With their first shot of the match, they stun Watford as Atsu lays the ball off to the left for Ritchie, who chips a cross to the far post for Rondon who usually comes out of aerial duels victorious. Masina had no chance in defence – and the Venezuela striker finishes with confidence!
27'
Dubravka receives a pass and blasts the ball forward after Newcastle’s defence get pinned in their own half thanks to a coordinated Watford press. The high kick relieves the pressure but returns possession to the hosts somewhat cheaply.
25'
Masina curls a deep free-kick into the penalty area after Success is once again fouled – immediately after returning to the pitch – but the set-piece swings right into the hands of Dubravka who makes the back-post save.
21'
Hayden slides through the back of Success in a nasty challenge, but while the referee awards Watford a free-kick in their own half, he keeps his cards in his pocket – surprisingly.
19'
With 20 minutes gone, there is only one side in this match. Watford have roughly 80% possession and three shots, to Newcastle’s zero. Benitez can’t be comfortable watching his side getting outplayed to this extent.
17'
Deulofeu gets through on goal after sprinting into the penalty area, entering on the right. One-on-one with the goalkeeper and the former Barcelona forward looks to slot the ball easily past Dubravka, but he makes an excellent save with his legs to keep the sides level.
15'
Hughes looks to slip a pass through the heart of the Newcastle defence, but his service is cut out by Lascelles at the last possible moment. The ball is then promptly played to the left and hoofed forward for Rondon to get on the end of – which he does. As soon as he controls the pass, however, the linesman raises his flag for offside on the striker, ending the move.
13'
Pereyra gets into the penalty area on the left, but is isolated and the midfielder can only buy time before winning his side a throw-in which will allow the team to pile forward and reset.
11'
Watford are building steadily after evading the Newcastle press in midfield. The hosts are certainly taking the responsibility to attack as Deulofeu bursts into the penalty area, only to lose possession under the weight of a challenge from Dummett.
9'
Pereyra gives away a free-kick on the edge of the Newcastle penalty area after his one-two pass with Success fails to come off. Watford have started brightly in the early stages, turning defence into attack with incredible speed.
7'
Ritchie takes a free-kick from midfield after a Quina handball, and he floats it to the far post but Capoue does his defensive duty and repels it with his head.
5'
Pereyra takes an inswinging corner towards the six-yard box but Lascelles is first to it with a powerful clearing header.
3'
Deulofeu takes the free-kick with the inside of his right foot, but the wall stands firm and makes the block – preventing Dubravka from being called into action.
2'
Watford win an early free-kick as Fernandez barges Success off the ball and to the floor. The set-piece is in a dangerous, central position just outside the penalty area.
1'
Newcastle get the match underway from the kick-off!
Hello and welcome to our LIVE commentary of the Premier League fixture between Watford and Newcastle United!
Winners of two of their last three matches, with a 2-1 defeat to Chelsea on Boxing Day their only misstep of late, Watford sit 10th – though a combination of results could see them finish the day as high as seventh, or as low as 12th.
Goals come as an almost certainty with Javi Gracia, as his side have not been a part of a match with under two goals since the reverse on November 3, when Ayoze Perez’s 65th-minute winner sealed a 1-0 victory for the Magpies. It could be another tight affair despite recent history, as Newcastle aren’t known for their prowess in attacking positions.
Rafa Benitez has Newcastle in 15th, five points above the drop at the midway stage, but results have not been good of late. A 0-0 draw with rock-bottom Fulham preceded a 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Liverpool on Boxing Day; their heaviest defeat in the league since a 5-1 loss at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea in February 2016.
Thoroughly incapable of scoring goals with any regularity, the combination of Perez, Salomon Rondon, Joselu and Yoshinori Muto has combined for a grand total of nine goals – 64% of their total tally. Only Fulham – five points from safety – have scored less, and only by two goals. If Newcastle are to depart Vicarage Road with any points at all, they’ll have to do their best to keep things tight at the back.
WATFORD SUBS: Jose Holebas, Tom Cleverley, Abdoulaye Doucoure, Miguel Britos, Troy Deeney, Heurelho Gomes, Ken Sema.
WATFORD XI (4-2-2-2): Ben Foster; Adam Masina, Craig Cathcart, Adrian Mariappa, Daryl Janmaat; Etienne Capoue, Domingos Quina; Roberto Pereyra, Will Hughes; Isaac Success, Gerard Deulofeu.
With 15 minutes to go before kick-off, the team news has been confirmed! Let's start with the home side!
NEWCASTLE SUBS: Jonjo Shelvey, Fabian Schar, Freddy Woodman, Yoshinori Muto, Joselu, Jacob Murphy, Javier Manquillo.
NEWCASTLE XI (4-4-1-1): Martin Dubravka; DeAndre Yedlin, Jamaal Lascelles, Federico Fernandez, Paul Dummett; Matt Ritchie, Isaac Hayden, Mohamed Diame, Christian Atsu; Ayoze Perez; Salomon Rondon.
Newcastle make three changes from the XI that lost 4-0 to Liverpool on December 26 – with the trio of alterations coming in the attacking third. Atsu replaces Kenedy on the wing and both strikers are swapped, as Perez and Rondon are in for Joselu and Muto.
Despite the possession they’ve had, and the creative, attacking players currently on the pitch, Watford have not quite been at their sharpest in front of goal. A Deulofeu one-on-one opportunity was the chance of the half for the Hornets – though Dubravka’s leg save was equal to the task. Gracia now has the unenviable task of trying to break down a Benitez defence – especially as they will sit deeper and deeper as the match goes on.
In a first half that was controlled almost exclusively by Watford, it’s Newcastle who head into the interval leading 1-0, thanks to Rondon’s powerful header after a Ritchie cross just before the half-hour mark. Gracia’s side came out of the blocks faster, attacking at every opportunity and looking to catch the Magpies out with their pace, but Newcastle bided their time, allowing possession and hitting on the counter. Despite some nervy moments, Benitez’s tactics seem to have paid off – though they still need to hold on for 45 more minutes.
Watford are back in action again on January 2 when they travel to face Bournemouth. Newcastle host Manchester United on the same day in their return to the pitch.
That concludes our commentary of the Premier League fixture between Watford and Newcastle! We hope you enjoyed it!
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