RAFA’S RUN OUT OF PATIENCE WITH ASHLEY

Rafa Benitez’S patience with Mike ashley is wearing thin. newcastle meandered to defeat at Watford in a meaningless end-of-season encounter, a result that irked Benitez, a man who demands more for his football club and their supporters. But while Benitez has shown the desire to improve things on the pitch, he is still waiting for assurance that his effort will be matched off it. and he has set himself a deadline of the end of the season to decide on his future. asked when he wanted his situation resolved, he said: ‘Maybe before the summer, i don’t know . . . as soon as possible. ‘this is a massive club. We want to compete in the Premier League at a good level. We cannot be thinking that our position is seeing that we’re safe. We had 52,000 fans in the Championship last season. the level this club has to be competing is in the top eight of the Premier League.’ the future at Watford of Javi Gracia is also far from certain. the manager bristled at questions on his own situation. ‘today we have mathematically achieved the objective. in the next game, i will concentrate on trying to improve the position of this club,’ he said. that is unlikely to keep the owners, or the players, happy. ‘they’re never happy settling for what they’ve got,’ said skipper troy Deeney, ‘and i think when you look round some of the talent in this squad we’re only a few minor adjustments away from properly competing in the top half.’ there may be more adjustments to come. Roberto Pereyra appears to be playing himself into a move this summer. the argentine has scored three in his last five and was the catalyst for victory here — scoring the first and setting up the second. if he does go, he’s unlikely to be the only departure from Vicarage Road — as Gracia is likely to find out. WATFORD (4-1-3-2): Karnezis 6.5; Janmaat 6, Cathcart 6, Kabasele 6.5, Holebas 6; Doucoure 6.5; Hughes 6.5, PEREYRA 7.5 (Deulofeu 56min, 6), Capoue 6; Deeney 6 (Mariappa 62, 6), Gray 6.5 (Richarlison 80). Subs not used: Gomes, Britos, Sinclair, Femenia. Scorers: Pereyra 2, Gray 28. Booked: Kabasele, Holebas. Manager: Javi Gracia 7. NEWCASTLE UNITED (4-2-3-1): Dubravka 7; Manquillo 6 (Yedlin 67, 6.5), Lascelles 6, Lejeune 6, Dummett 6; Murphy 5 (Ritchie 53, 6.5), Diame 6.5 (Merino 84); Shelvey 6, Kenedy 6, Perez 6.5; Gayle 6. Subs not used: Darlow, Hayden, Joselu, Haidara. Scorer: Perez 55. Booked: Perez. Manager: Rafa Benitez 6.5. Referee: Roger East 6. Attendance: 20,375.