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Commentary
Minute
Description
90' +4
That's the full-time whistle! The referee calls time on this entertaining game at Vicarage Road, with Watford clinching victory and securing their Premier League survival.
90'
There will be a minimum of four minutes added time played.
88'
HUGE CHANCE! Merino with an excellent opportunity to equalise! It was an excellent block by Mariappa, to stop what looked to be a certain goal. Yedlin does well down the right, cuts the ball back to Merino on the edge of the box, he runs onto it and fires an effort at goal, but it is superbly blocked by Mariappa.
86'
There isn't much time left on the clock for Newcastle to score an equaliser now, if they had played like this in the first half, it surely would've been a very different game. Could Deeney's penalty miss come back and haunt Watford in the final stages? You have to feel that if they'd score that and gone into the break with a 3-0 lead, it would've wrapped up the victory for the Hornets.
84'
Mikel Merino enters the game and replaces M. Diamé.
Newcastle now make their final change of the afternoon, with Diamé replaced by Merino.
82'
The first Watford effort at goal in a long time, with Kabasele getting above his marker in the box and aiming a header towards goal but it is straight at Dubravka, who comfortably gathers and sets Newcastle off on another attack.
80'
Richarlison enters the game and replaces A. Gray.
Watford make their third and final substitution of the game, with Andre Gray coming off and he has been replaced by Richarlison.
78'
Victory for Watford today would see them move level on points with Newcastle, but four places behind them in the table due to goal difference. There would be four teams all on 41 points in the middle of the pitch, battling it out for the best position come the end of the season, when prize money comes into play.
76'
Newcastle are dominating the game now, they are pressing hard for another goal and at the moment it looks like only one team will be scoring again this afternoon. The Magpies are throwing everything at the hosts and you can sense the anxiety of the home crowd who have seen their side crumble in this second half.
73'
OFF THE POST! Corner to Newcastle, which is taken by Shelvey to the near post, and Perez gets across his marker and flicks the ball towards goal, but it clips the outside of the post and bounces wide. They are getting closer.
Minute
Description
72'
J. Holebas gets yellow.
CHANCE! Gayle manages to control the ball and turn deep in the box after an excellent chipped ball over the top of the Watford defence by Shelvey. However, the Hornets manage to get back just in time to crowd the striker out and stop him from firing an effort at goal. Gayle appeals for a penalty, he feels that he was tripped by Cathcart, but the referee wasn't interested.
A yellow card is shown to José Holebas.
67'
D. Yedlin enters the game and replaces Javier Manquillo.
Newcastle make their second substitution of the game, with Javier Manquillo replaced by DeAndre Yedlin. A straight swap at right-back for the visitors, with Yedlin offering more pace and attacking intent down that wing, as they search for an equalising goal.
65'
Almost an own goal! Karnezis had to be alert then as Mariappa almost makes the scoreline level! A wicked cross came into the penalty area, which one Watford defender ducked out of heading, so it struck Mariappa rather unexpectedly and with possibly his first touch of the game, he almost scores!
64'
Watford are starting to struggle here, their terrific first-half performance looks to have disappeared completely and they now look nervous when Newcastle come forward in attack. Surely they won't let this two goal lead slip!
62'
A. Mariappa enters the game and replaces T. Deeney.
The Watford skipper Troy Deeney is the latest Watford player to be taken off, his replacement is Adrian Mariappa.
60'
CHANCE WATFORD! Gray appears to be played through on goal, with two Newcastle defenders for company, but the strikers first touch is poor and takes the ball away from goal, rather than cutting in towards goal and stepping across the Magpies defenders, which would've set up a chance to fire an effort goalwards.
58'
C. Kabasele gets yellow.
Kabasele is the first Watford player to be shown a yellow card this afternoon and his late challenge on Perez.
56'
Deulofeu enters the game and replaces R. Pereyra.
Watford make their first change of the game, with Pereyra coming off and he has been replaced by Deulofeu.
55'
Ayoze Pérez has scored a goal for Newcastle United! Assist by Javier Manquillo.
Manquillo with a good cross into the Watford box, after a terrific drive forward down the right-wing, with Perez producing an excellent finish to pull one back for the Magpies.
GOOOAAALLL NEWCASTLE PULL ONE BACK! Perez with his sixth goal of the season to make it 2-1 here and give the visitors a huge chance of getting something out of the game. A deep cross came into the box by Manquillo and it was poor marking by the Watford defence, allowing Perez to drift in at the far post, who produces an excellent half volley to slide it into the back of the net.
53'
M. Ritchie enters the game and replaces J. Murphy.
Newcastle make their first substitution of the game, it's Jacob Murphy who is the man coming off and he has been replaced by Matt Ritchie.
48'
Newcastle have started this half much better than the opening 45 minutes, they are on the front foot and enjoying a decent spell of possession early on but they look short of ideas in attack. The Magpies have struggled for goals this season, with their top goalscorers being Gayle and Perez, who have five Premier League goals each.
46'
The second half is underway!
45' +1
The referee calls time on an entertaining first half at Vicarage Road!
45'
There will be a minimum of one minute added time played here.
42'
Ayoze Pérez gets yellow.
The first yellow card of the game is shown to Ayoze Pérez.
39'
Penalty saved by M. Dúbravka!
EXCELLENT SAVES! Two superb stops by Dubravka in the Newcastle goal, first the penalty save from Deeney and then the rebound effort from the striker, which was arguably an even better save, to just about keep his side in the game. What a signing he has been for Newcastle!
PENALTY MISSED! Deeney tries to smash the ball down the middle, but Dubravka makes an excellent save, the rebound then appears to fall perfectly to Deeney to tuck the ball away on the second attempt. However, the striker fires the ball straight at the Magpies keeper once again, who makes a terrific stop. Newcastle then finally manage to clear the ball, a huge let-off for the visitors.
38'
WATFORD PENALTY! Dummett and Gray both go down deep inside the Newcastle penalty area and it looks just to be a Watford corner. However, the linesman on that side of the pitch has no hesitation in awarding a penalty. Dummett slides into the tackle and doesn't get any of the ball, taking away Gray's legs. It didn't look a penalty on first viewing, but after watching the replay it appears to be a good call by the officials.
37'
The large number of traveling Newcastle supporters haven't had much to cheer about so far, their side haven't really turned up yet this afternoon and they will need a lot of improvement in the second if they are to take anything away from this game.
35'
The atmosphere is terrific at Vicarage Road, with the home supporters really enjoying their performance from their side so far. You have to think that if they had played like this more regularly this season, they would be a lot higher in the table, however inconsistency has been their downfall at times.
33'
Newcastle have never won a top-flight away game against Watford (P7 W0 D4 L3) – only away against Wimbledon (10) have they played more without a victory.
31'
Newcastle are yet to test the Watford defence, they are getting into decent positions in the Hornets half but then are missing a clinical pass or finish when it matters. The hosts look very comfortable at the moment.
28'
A. Gray has scored a goal for Watford! Assist by R. Pereyra.
GOOOAAALLL WATFORD DOUBLE THEIR LEAD! Gray with a simple header at the far post after brilliant build-up play by Pereyra. The winger played a quick one-two with Deeney down the left-wing, he then dribbled his way past Manquillo, before playing a lovely ball to Gray who was waiting at the far post and he simply couldn't miss from there.
Pereyra used his skill to easily beat Manquillo just inside the Newcastle box, he then looked up and played a great ball to Gray at the far post, which was just out of the grasp off Dubravka, who tried to claim the ball in the air.
25'
Newcastle break quickly on the counter, after a lovely ball forward by Shelvey, he picks out Gayle perfectly. The striker then tries to spray the ball out wide to Kenedy, but the pass is overhit and the attack runs out of steam, giving Watford the opportunity to clear the danger.
24'
The pace of the game has dropped slightly in the last few minutes, especially when Newcastle are on the ball, as they are trying to slow the game down as much as they can and pick their passes carefully, after a tough opening period.
19'
Watford are finding lots of space in this Newcastle defence, they look like they could score each time they venture into the final third, with the visitors giving away far too many sloppy passes and inviting the pressure on themselves.
17'
The game has settled down now, with Newcastle starting to enjoy some possession of their own and grow into the game. However, it is all in the middle of the pitch as they ease into their own pattern of play. Watford are happy for them to have it in these areas and still look dangerous going forward.
14'
Watford finished on 40 points last season, a victory today would take them past that number with another game to play. Whilst Newcastle, will surely be pleased with their season, staying in the Premier League was always their aim for this campaign and after a superb second half to the season, they have achieved that pretty comfortably.
12'
Gray and Deeney are really causing the Newcastle defence problems here, with the latter dropping slighter deeper to get on the ball more and laying it off to his fellow striker. They are forcing the visitors to sit deep and soak up the pressure at the moment, a second goal early for Watford could kill this game off.
8'
Newcastle are really struggling to get a grip of this game at the moment, they aren't able to get on the ball and string a few passes together yet, due to Watford's early dominance here.
5'
CHANCE! Another Watford effort at goal and they almost make it 2-0 early on here! Pereyra is slotted through on goal by Deeney, but Dubravka does well to block his effort. Deeney then gets to the rebound, but his shot is also straight at the keeper. It then falls to Capoue on the edge of the area, who powers an effort at goal, but it takes a deflection and goes wide.
2'
R. Pereyra has scored a goal for Watford! Assist by A. Doucouré.
Both teams appear to be going for the win here, seeing how they have set up this afternoon, as both are playing two strikers up front in search of goals. Watford have started the game the brighter of the two sides, can they take an early lead?
It was excellent play by Doucouré to pick out his teammate in a better position, as he could've quite easily taken the shot at goal himself.
GOOOAAALLL WATFORD LEAD! Excellent play between Doucoure, Gray and Deeney. Gray feeds the ball to Deeney, who can't latch onto it but it falls perfectly to Doucoure who then squares it to Pereya, who slots the ball into the bottom corner, Dubravka with no chance of saving that.
1'
We're underway!
Good afternoon and welcome to our LIVE commentary of the Premier League clash between Watford and Newcastle United at Vicarage Road.
Newcastle face Watford this afternoon and with three games of the season remaining, the Magpies have little left to play for as they are already assured of survival. Newcastle are currently 10th in the table on 41 points after a superb second half to the season, after a poor start following promotion from the Championship.
The team news is in, here is how the two sides will line-up this afternoon...
WATFORD (4-4-2): Orestis Karnezis (GK); Daryl Janmaat, Craig Cathcart, Christian Kabasele, Joses Holebas; Roberto Pereyra, Etienne Capoue, Abdoulaye Doucoure, Will Hughes; Andre Gray, Troy Deeney (c)
NEWCASTLE SUBS: Karl Darlow, Matt Ritchie, Isaac Hayden, Joselu, DeAndre Yedlin, Mikel Merino, Massadio Haidara
NEWCASTLE (4-2-3-1): Martin Dubravka (GK); Javier Manquillo, Jamaal Lascelles, Florian Lejeune, Paul Dummett; Mo Diame, Jonjo Shelvey; Jacob Murphy, Ayoze Perez, Kenedy; Dwight Gayle
WATFORD SUBS: Heurelho Gomes, Miguel Britos, Adrian Mariappa, Gerard Deulofeu, Richarlison, Jerome Sinclair, Kiko Femenia
Watford are not mathematically guaranteed to stay up just yet, they sit 13th with 38 points and should be safe as they hold a six-point cushion over the bottom three. However, they have gone seven games without a win as their form has once again dipped at the end of the season.
TEAM NEWS: Watford make three changes after the defeat by Tottenham at Wembley on Monday evening, as Janmaat, Pereyra and Deeney come into the starting line-up, replacing Richarlison, Femenia and Mariappa, who all drop to the bench. Meanwhile for Newcastle, Manquillo replaces Yedlin, and Murphy comes in for Ritchie, who drops to the Magpies bench.
The teams are out here at Vicarage Road and kick-off is just minutes away, stay tuned for all of the match action!
HALF-TIME: WATFORD 2-0 NEWCASTLE
Watford fully deserve their lead, but their advantage should be more than the two goals they have scored. The Hornets have dominated the game, with goals from Pereyra and Gray, but Deeney missed a penalty to make it three late on in the half. Newcastle have been second best in every department and have a lot of improvements to make in the second half if they are to get back into the game.
That's all from us today folks, we hope you enjoyed the game!
FULL-TIME: WATFORD 2-1 NEWCASTLE
Newcastle performed much better in the second half, a completely different performance from the first half and they almost managed to take something away from the game. Perez pulled a goal back midway through the second period, with the Magpies then continuing to press forward and they threw everything at Watford, but the Hornets managed to cling on and claim all three points this afternoon. Both teams now sit on 41 points, with just goal difference separating the two sides.
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