Howe fears mental scars after another nightmare

THIS wasn’t in the brochure when the Saudis splashed out £300million on one of football’s sleeping giants. Nor was it in the script when the mega-rich owners sanctioned a multi-million pound January spending spree designed to catapult Newcastle away from the danger zone.

It all looked so rosy for the Magpies four minutes after half-time, when Allan Saintmaximin produced a moment of magic to break the deadlock.

But Geordie joy was fleeting. When Joao Pedro met sub

Kiko Femenia’s right-wing cross with a superb header on 88 minutes, a deathly hush descended on a stunned St James’ Park.

Failure to beat awatford side who’d lost their previous seven games fuelled fears that the world’s wealthiest club could be in the Championship next season. Newcastle have now dropped 21 points from winning positions.

Boss Eddie Howe said of the latest setback: “We know it is damaging because this was an opportunity to get one over a direct rival. I hope it does not leave mental scars. How damaging it is, the future will decide.

“There was a lot to like before we scored but then we invited pressure and brought them back into the game.

“We lost our attacking threat and that is down to a lack of confidence through not winning enough games.”

Watford should have levelled when Martin Dubravka bravely foiled Joshua King and ex-toon midfielder Moussa Sissoko fired horribly wide after a mistake by Jamaal

Lascelles. But then Joao Pedro pounced with the goal that stopped the Hornets’ rot.

Boss Claudio Ranieri said: “I am happy but I want more and believe they can give me more. A draw was the least we deserved.

“They had one chance in the second half and we had two or three before the goal.”

Jonjo Shelvey almost gave away a sixth-minute penalty when he hacked down Juraj Kucka just outside the box.

And King should at least have tested Dubravka when he burst into the area unopposed only to slice his shot wide.

Better chances fell to Joelinton at the other end. He was desperately unlucky when his left-foot valley hit a post after Ryan Fraser’s deflected cross dropped into his path.

Then he ghosted in at the far post to meet Kieran Trippier’s corner with a first-time effort which flew wide.

Chris Wood had his first sight of goal on 25 minutes, when Lascelles flicked on another Trippier flag-kick, but the

£25m striker couldn’t keep his header down.

There was no doubting the quality of Saint-maximin’s fifth goal of the season.there was no danger when Jeremy

Ngakia allowed the Frenchman to tackle him before cutting inside and beating Ben Foster with a smart finish.

The goal only briefly eased nerves inside the ground, though, as Watford had the better chances late on and deserved their equaliser with two minutes left.