Hornets boss still not sure of his future
HORNETS manager Javi Gracia has steered his side to safety but admitted he might not be around next season to enjoy the fruits of his success.
This is the club that sacks for fun and their recent downturn has put him under pressure.
A rare victory yesterday ensured another season of Premier League football but even Gracia, their eighth manager in less than five years, does not know if it spells success or the sack.
He has had 14 matches in charge but secured only four wins since taking over in January and he said: “We have made ourselves safe.
“But as for my future, that is for others.
“All I can say is I am proud to be at this game.
“I do not know what happens next at the club, all I know is we must concentrate on the next game and ensure we secure a nice place in the summer.
“We made it hard for ourselves at the end but I am happy at this moment.
“We played well in the first half.
“Newcastle played better in the second, creating more chances but we stayed firm and showed character.
“I am pleased with the way we coped, the way we were able to keep working and defending and I am proud of the players and their attitude. I trust all my players.
“It is a shame we did not score from the penalty but we had to keep faith and made a big effort not to lose.”
Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez set aside the disappointment of defeat and preferred to think of the positives.
He said: “After the season we have had it was nice we secured safety with five games to go.
“We should be proud of that.
“The team are disappointed we didn’t play well in the first half. The second was much better.
“We made chances but made too many mistakes in the first half through lack of focus and did not defend as a team.
“In the end we lost when we should have got a point at least.
“But we achieved something that was impossible in the league with five games to go.
“On the downside we have lost now three in a row and have to react.
“Overall, I am really proud of this group of players, so proud and now would like to finish on a high.”
WATFORD, who usually go to sleep when the season reaches its business end, woke up in their final home game and twisted the knife yet again into Newcastle.
Having not won in seven previous league games, they looked like world beaters.
Perhaps, that is too strong, particularly in the second half. It was more like knocking over a side that was second best throughout and only lacking sunglasses, flip-flops and passports.
If nothing else, it proved Javi Gracia could still have a future at a club which likes to hire and fire managers more often than Paul Pogba changes his hairstyle.
Newcastle upped their game in the second half when Ayoze Perez scored to make it 2-1 but how Watford had not scored five by then is a mystery.
Watford, who had previously scored just five in seven matches, shocked all – probably themselves also – by taking the lead after just 126 seconds.
They took off on the front foot and stunned Newcastle with their aggression. Following swift, eye-catching movement Roberto Pereyra (right) calmly found the net following Abdoulaye Doucoure’s measured pass.
Four minutes later it could have been two when Troy Deeney, Doucoure and Etienne Capoue all rattled shots before the ball, thankfully for Newcastle, went for a corner. The Magpies, who arrived not having won a top-flight game against Watford since 2006, looked stunned for long periods and keeper Martin Dubravka kept out Andre Gray in the 26th minute only to pick the ball from the net a minute later.
Gray was not to be denied, when Pereyra swung over a cross, few Newcastle defenders fancied it and Gray headed home unchallenged for his first goal since January 13.
It should have been three after 40 minutes when Deeney missed from the penalty spot after Paul
Dummett brought down Gray.
Dubravka saved Deeney’s first effort then recovered to block the second, much to the delight of team-mates and Newcastle’s vast travelling army behind their goal. Watford had won their last three Premier League meetings with Newcastle, including a 3-0 win at St James’ Park in the reverse fixture and continued being their nemesis.
But it was not a good day for Newcastle, having lost their previous two Premier League games you get the impression a lot of surgery is needed in the summer.
Newcastle suddenly found a route to goal when Perez volleyed home Javier Manquillo’s 55th-minute cross.
But they had keeper Dubravka to thank for several super saves, which kept them in the game, albeit to no avail.
By the end, the Toon faithful had returned to chanting a familiar refrain about unpopular owner Mike Ashley, chanting: “You big, fat cockney b ****** , get out of our club”. Their problems
remain.