United up and running as they finally find way to win a match
Newcastle 1 Watford 0
AYOZE Perez rose off the substitute’s bench to finally end Newcastle United’s winless start to the season as Rafa Benitez’s side claimed a valuable 1-0 victory over in-form Watford at St James’ Park.
The Magpies are off the bottom of the table and out of the relegation zone, too – until Huddersfield Town host Fulham tomorrow, at least – and, having rode their luck during the first half, United deserved their victory by battling their way through the second period.
Here, NUFC Writer Chris Waugh takes us through what we learned as United claimed their first victory in 174 days...
Perez gives the perfect response to being dropped
After almost six weeks without a Premier League start, Salomon Rondon returned to the Magpies XI – with Yoshinori Muto playing just off the Venezuelan.
That meant Perez was dropped from the United starting side for just the sec- ond time this season, with the 25-yearold having desperately struggled for form so far.
It also allowed Newcastle supporters to see the Rondon-Muto partnership – one which Benitez holds high hopes for, given the power of the former and the pace of the latter – from the start of a Premier League match.
Benitez spent the whole summer chasing Rondon; and he was only able to bring the striker to Tyneside by agreeing to send Dwight Gayle on loan to West Bromwich Albion in return.
Therefore, it is essential for Benitez that Rondon starts to come good – and quickly, given United’s lack of goals, particularly at St James’ Park.
Against Watford, Rondon looked like a striker who was short of match fitness. Although the Venezuelan did show he is adept at holding up the ball and bringing team-mates into play, he struggled to cover ground.
Muto had no such problem during the first half, with the Japan international buzzing around with intent – but rarely did the forward make the right decision in attack, while he also coughed up possession in dangerous positions. He limped off just before the break and was replaced by Perez, who came on to play as a No 10 just off Rondon.
After a very poor opening 10 games, eventually the Spaniard’s season burst into life as he got himself on to the end of Ki Sung-yueng’s whipped free-kick to power an unstoppable header past Ben Foster in the 65th minute.
It was the perfect response to being dropped – and hopefully now this is the start of one of his trademark purple patches in front of goal for United.
Lascelles’ roller-coaster week takes another twist
It has been a bizarre week for the Newcastle skipper. The news he signed an improved contract was intended to change the narrative on Tyneside – and it was initially celebrated.
But, once his new six-year deal was announced, Jamaal Lascelles’ decision to praise owner Mike Ashley – referring to the billionaire as a “nice guy” – turned one of the few positive stories to have emerged from St James’ Park this season into a negative.
The hype surrounding the 24-yearold’s comments were overblown – he was referring to his own personal experience of enjoying an Italian meal with Ashley last month, rather than a gener- Newcastle United’s Ayoze Perez al view on how the owner has run Newcastle over the past decade and more – but they were also naÏve.
Even given the furore over his comments, Lascelles was always going to start for United against Watford in what was an extremely significant game for the Magpies.
The Wor Flags banner of the captain which has regularly been on display in the Gallowgate in recent months was once again on show as Lascelles was greeted out on to the field.
However, he did not have his best game in black-and-white stripes –