Good fortune on Hornets’ side, says Javi

WATFORD manager Javi Gracia believes luck favoured his side after the Hornets just about held off a second-half fightback from Newcastle United at Vicarage Road.

The home side were dominant during the first half - scoring through Roberto Pereyra and Andre Gray inside the opening halfhour, before seeing Troy Deeney’s penalty saved - and should have gone into the break with a healthier advantage than 2-0.

However, after the interval Newcastle rallied and pulled a goal back through Ayoze Perez - while United had chances late on to rescue a point as well.

However, Gracia insists fortune was with his Hornets side on this occasion - something he claims has been lacking in recent weeks and that Watford needed this little piece of good fortune to mathematically guarantee their top-flight status.

He said: “We played better in the first half. We could have killed the game and missed a penalty.

“After that, Newcastle played better and created chances to draw the game but we were a bit more lucky than in the last games, where we did not have it. I am very pleased to achieve the objective and I am proud of my players.

“Many times we have lost points late on and this was an important game. We needed the points and the players showed a good attitude, character and desire, and for that I am very happy.

“We will see after the last game if the club respects my contract or will speak with me - but I am proud to be with this club and I am happy here.”

Interestingly, Gracia hinted a weakness he had identified pre-match in the United defence contributed to his team selection.

The Spaniard opted to field two strikers in Deeney and Gray for the first time during his tenure, something which Newcastle struggled to deal with when playing their usual 4-2-3-1 formation.

As a result, Benitez changed system midway through the first half, bringing Paul Dummett inside to act as a third centre-half alongside Jamaal Lascelles and Florian Lejeune - and only after that did United start to deal with the dual-striker threat.

“In this moment, in this game, it was a good situation for us playing with two together but we have to know the different situations,” Gracia said of playing two forwards.

“I am very proud of all of them because they have all made a very big effort.”