Saturday 25 November 2017 18:43, UK
Watford swept aside an out-of-form Newcastle with a 3-0 victory at St James' Park in the Premier League on Saturday.
Rafa Benitez's side have now lost their last four top-flight games - scoring just once - as the Hornets continued to impress under Marco Silva.
Will Hughes (19) was on the scoresheet for a second successive Premier League game and opened the scoring for Watford, before Magpies defender DeAndre Yedlin (46) poked the ball into the back of his own net on the stroke of half-time.
Andre Gray (62) rounded off proceedings as he slotted home from a Richarlison cross to move Watford on to 21 points while Newcastle slip down one place to 13th and remain on 14 points.
Newcastle began the game well and could twice have taken the lead. A cross from Jacob Murphy in the fourth minute fell to Joselu, but he could not sort his feet properly as his shanked effort went wide. Matt Ritchie then tried his luck from the top of the box eight minutes later but it flashed just past the post.
But it was Watford who opened the scoring in the 19th minute as Hughes once again found the back of the net. Marvin Zeegelaar was played in down the left flank by a superb diagonal ball by Kabasele, and pulled the ball back for Hughes just inside the box. He then hit low and hard through the area to see the ball drive into the goal.
The visitors could have added an instant second as Zeegelaar once again picked out the run of Kabasele, who made a run unmarked through the box, but his attempt to poke home at the back post could only be directed behind.
With mere seconds of the first half to play, Watford produced a late sucker punch. Richarlison slid in Zeegelaar down the left flank and he, in turn, produced a cross into the box. Yedlin was waiting to turn it behind but his diversion instead headed goalwards and beat Rob Elliot at the near post to hand Watford a two-goal lead.
Newcastle again had half chances at the start of the second period, with Dwight Gayle's inviting cross just evading the head of Ritchie after the restart, before Murphy nodded a Gayle cross just wide of the post in the 56th minute.
However, Gray added another for Watford just after the hour mark. It was a great break from the visitors with Richarlison set away down the left flank before whipping a superb ball across the face of goal that met the sliding foot of Gray at the back post, who slotted home past Elliot.
Neither side really had a clear-cut chance to score the next goal as Watford comfortably saw out the game to take all three points.
Rafa Benitez: "It was a classic game of the Premier League. You make mistakes and you pay for that. We can work harder, work better and that's it. We have to realise that this is the Premier League and you have to be strong as a unit... We have to stick together like we did in a lot of games and improve that."
Marco Silva: "I am happy because we won this match. We performed really well again, to have a clean sheet is really important for us as a team as well. I'm happy in this moment but my job is to prepare the team for the next match, prepare well for the next session. I don't usually change a lot when we win or don't win."
Charlie Nicholas: Watford are a very good team. Very athletic, very strong and great enthusiasm. Zeegelaar, it is the first time I have seen him, is just a big unit up and down the left flank. All compliments to Watford's style. The balance of the physical side and the footballing side is superb. This could have been 8-0 today.
"This game was over by half time for Newcastle. Rafa had to change something, but changed nothing. This is a man that normally reacts, but he did nothing. They are a mess at the back. If Rafa watches this game back, he has to watch it more than once."
It was a brilliant performance from Zeegelaar on just his second appearance for Watford and his second start in the Premier League. He set up the opening two goals and continued to provide for the Hornets down that left flank, shining when Richarlison had a quieter afternoon.
But it wasn't just in attack where he had a hand, he contributed with the defensive work, where Kabasele deserves a special mention, and looked comfortable in a big ground like St James' Park.
Both teams are back in Premier League action on Tuesday, with Newcastle travelling to West Brom while Watford host Manchester United.
