Benitez laments slack defending after Doucoure rescues Watford
Rafael Benitez is still refusing to talk about Newcastle United’s transfer plans but it is clear what is required: new additions all over the pitch.
The Spaniard opted not to discuss the January window prior to this trip and was again silent on the matter after another frustrating afternoon sealed a miserable December that contained just one victory in seven matches.
In attack, defence and midfield, Newcastle need signings, because they are sleepwalking into a relegation battle. Ahead for most of the match thanks to Salomon Rondon’s goal, they conceded late to Abdoulaye Doucoure to leave their manager exasperated.
“I don’t talk about the transfer window and January. I’m only here to talk about the game,” said Benitez, when asked if he will take the opportunity to talk to owner Mike Ashley about the matter most pressing.
“I’m disappointed with the way we defended and we were very close. They scored in a way we could have avoided.”
Benitez had said earlier in the week that Newcastle surviving in the Premier League would be a “miracle” and they now find themselves just four points above the relegation zone after a performance that also lacked cutting edge in attack. Yet the former Liverpool manager presented a positive picture.
“It is very clear that we can get a miracle done,” he said. “We did it last year, I have to believe we can do it. This could be a good point against a good team.”
Continued uncertainty over Ashley’s ownership of the club is not helping at all and Newcastle’s long-suffering and noisy supporters will be desperate for a resolution on that score.
Watford had the better of the early moments, with Paul Dummett’s superb challenge denying Gerard Deulofeu before the Spaniard was then foiled by Martin Du- bravka when presented with a one-on-one opportunity.
But Newcastle took the lead after 29 minutes as West Bromwich Albion loanee Rondon headed past his former teammate Ben Foster from a Matt Ritchie cross for his fifth goal in the last eight league matches.
Rondon thought he had scored a second but was denied by an offside flag from Ayoze Perez’s cross, while at the other end Isaac Success shot straight at goalkeeper Dubravka with a powerful effort from distance.
Newcastle were certainly showing their character, with Federico Fernan dez putting his body on the line to deny Success, who had ran on to a Will Hughes cross. The Newcastle defender injured himself in the process and was replaced at the interval.
The visitors will feel they should have finished Watford off in the second half as Rondon headed over from Ritchie’s cross and the latter player shot straight at Foster.
But they lacked a cutting edge upfront and, while they played with plenty of heart, it was not enough to hold on as Watford, who had failed to offer much of note themselves, eventually exposed poor defending eight minutes from the end. Substitute Doucoure headed in from Deulofeu’s cross to give Watford a point and his manager, Javi Gracia, later insisted that the midfielder would remain with the club past January despite being linked with Paris St-Germain.
“There is nothing different with Doucoure, he is my player, he will stay with me until the end of the season,” Gracia said. “Maybe the game could have had a different result. I’m happy we kept believing.”