5:16pm Saturday 27th February 2010
By Anthony Matthews
An efficient and effective display by Newcastle United saw them take another step back towards the Premier League with a 2-1 victory at Watford this afternoon.
Headers from Fabricio Coloccini and Andy Carroll at the start of each half put the visitors in the driving seat and, although the Hornets had plenty of possession and territory, they struggled to create chances until substitute Will Hoskins snatched a late consolation.
Malky Mackay made just the one enforced change from the controversial 2-2 draw at Scunthorpe United, with Jon Harley replacing the suspended Tom Cleverley.
But the visitors were in front inside four minutes when a free-kick from the left and level with the edge of the penalty area was not dealt with and Carroll headed back across goal for Coloccini to beat Scott Loach at his near post with a header from inside the six-yard box.
The Hornets responded well to the early setback – and had the majority of possession and territory – but struggled to create anything of note for the remainder of the opening period against the visitors’ organised defensive ranks.
Watford’s hopes of getting back into the contest were severely dented within five minutes of the restart when, from the visitors’ first corner of the match, Danny Guthrie clipped the ball towards the near post and Andy Carroll thumped a header past Loach.
The Hornets never gave up though, and their efforts were rewarded in injury-time when a Heidar Helguson shot appeared to be blocked by Kevin Nolan’s hand, but the ball broke nicely for Hoskins to confidently beat Steve Harper.
To read more about how the game unfolded, click here.
Watford: Loach; Mariappa, DeMerit, Taylor, Doyley; Cowie (McGinn, 83), Eustace, Lansbury, Harley (Hoskins, 77); Graham, Helguson. Not used: Jenkins, Lee, Henderson, Bryan and Hodson.
Newcastle United: Harper; Simpson, Williamson, Coloccini, Simpson, Van Aanholt; Guthrie (Pancrate, 89), Nolan, Smith, Gutierrez (R Taylor 87); Carroll, Best (Ranger, 74). Not used: Hall, Krul, Kadar and Donaldson.
Bookings: Graham for a foul on Coloccini after 17 mins; Best for a foul on DeMerit after 23 mins; Williamson for a foul on Helguson after 25 mins; Harley for a foul on Simpson after 43 mins; Nolan for a foul on Lansbury after 44 mins; Smith for a foul on Lansbury after 49 mins.
Referee: Tony Bates.
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