NEWCASTLE UNITED ............................................ 0 Newcastle stung with Hornets piling on the agony
IT’S already looking it will be a long, hard winter for Newcastle United in the Premier League.
And the “short blanket” that Rafa Benitez has spoken about on several occasions as Toon boss is struggling to warm up some long-suffering Geordie souls.
When describing a squad with limited resources, the Spaniard once said, “If you cover your head, your feet are cold”.
As the temperatures plummeted at St James’ Park, his worst fears were confirmed as a team set up to absorb pressure and try to nick this one on the break ended up capitulating defensively.
And once Newcastle’s early chances were squandered and Watford had taken the lead, the Magpies were exposed at the other end when trying to make amends.
In doing so, they left enough gaps for the Hornets to expose either side of half-time.
It meant United crashed to their fourth defeat in a row and Newcastle slipped down the table.
Benitez has warned his board there was a lack of quality back in the summer but his words were ignored, and while he opted to battle with what he had, he can do little when his team don’t look up for the challenge on days like this.
Newcastle earned the first chance of the game on three minutes when Jacob Murphy crossed into the pen- alty area but Joselu mis-kicked and Watford cleared their lines.
On the 10-minute mark, Tom Cleverley’s corner eventually fell for Adrian Mariappa but he failed to hit the target after an elaborate overhead kick.
United responded moments later after Matt Ritchie received the ball down the right but his shot whistled wide of the post.
Watford came forward again four minutes later as Richarlison powered down the lefthand side but his shot was d e f l e c t e d wide.
The Hornets cont r o l l e d the early stages of the match a n d e n j o y e d more possession – 59%.
And it was no surprise when the visitors grabbed the lead on 19 minutes.
C h r i s t i a n K a b a s e l e slipped the ball to Marvin Z e e g e l a a r before he clipped it back for Will Hughes, who stroked home into the bottom corner with time and space to compose himself. It could have been even worse moments later when a chance fell for Abdoulaye Doucoure at the back post but he somehow missed his chance right in front of goal. Newcastle responded when Joselu struck a shot from a tight angle at goal, but wily Watford veteran Heurelho Gomes got down to save well. Ritchie threaded the ball down the left-hand side to Joselu on 35 minutes but despite doing well to get his shot in, it rolled beyond the back post. Joselu then headed another effort well wide in Newcastle’s next attack. Newcastle’s lack of quality in the