Perez gives Magpies a belated taste of victory
newcastle united 1 Perez (65) watford 0
Bonfire Night is almost here and Newcastle United finally gave their season the rocket it desperately needed.
Three months into the campaign, Ayoze Perez’s solitary goal delivered a first win, at the 11th time of asking, which moved them out of the Premier League’s bottom three in the process.
It was far from vintage and certainly against the odds. They lost three players to injury by the 51st minute – Yoshinori Muto, Jamaal Lascelles and Jonjo Shelvey – and saw Watford hit the woodwork and spurn a host of chances, too.
But manager Rafa Benitez certainly wasn’t complaining. After three points from the first 10 games, his team needed a win however it came. As it was, the three subs all made a difference. Ki Sung-Yeung set up Perez’s winner, while Fabian Schar was excellent.
Benitez had called for togetherness in his programme notes to try and end the negative mood that has engulfed the support in their passionate dislike of owner Mike Ashley.
And the Spaniard was delighted that his call was answered as the fans willed the players on during the second half.
“The players, the fans, everyone was pushing in the same direction and it made a big difference,” he said.
“The fans have been fantastic the whole season and today was another example. The players are giving everything – they are making mistakes, starting from me – but the fans appreciate that.
“It’s a big relief. We did so many different things, but still we couldn’t get three points.
“If the players do like they did and like they did last season, we can stay up. But we have to keep working hard.”
Newcastle were on the verge of ignominy before the game. After opening with five straight home defeats, another one would have made them the first top-flight side ever lose their first six home games in a season.
They began like a team lacking in confidence and were on the back foot for the entire first half against opponents who were quicker in speed and thought.
Watford skipper Adrian Mariappa was unmarked at a corner and saw his header blocked by Lascelles and then shot wide when the ball ricocheted back to him.
The game would have been sewn up if Gerard Deulofeu had brought his shooting boots with him. Instead the Spaniard wasted three great opportunities to put his team ahead. Having missed the target with every one of them, he turned provider for Isaac Success who was denied by the legs of goalkeeper Martin Dubravka.
The only thing the Geordies could muster during that opening 45 minutes was a snapshot from Mohamed Diame which was parried by Ben Foster.
Their plans had to alter as Muto and Shelvey went off with muscle injuries and Lascelles had a shoulder problem in a sixminute spell either side of the break.
But Watford were unlucky not to go in front as Roberto Pereyra cut inside and struck the crossbar with a curling effort.
However, the mood inside St James’ Park was altered as Ki delivered a devilish free-kick from which only needed a glance from Perez’s head to take the ball speeding past Foster.
Rondon should have doubled the advantage, but he headed wide from Kenedy’s hanging cross, but they were indebted to the Brazilian for a goal-saving tackle on Watford sub Andre Gray, when he looked certain to sweep in an equaliser.
And the visitors’ afternoon was summed up in injury time when another golden chance went begging with sub Stefano Okaka sidefooting over from six yards as Newcastle hung on for the three points.
“For me it is difficult to accept,” said Hornets boss Javi Gracia. “I’m not disappointed with the players, but I’m disappointed with the result.
“We dominated the first half and created clear chances. But if you don’t kill the game, something like this happens.”