Even with 19 matches left to play, every fixture for Watford is crucial in the fight for survival, especially matches against relegation rivals.
They made the trip north to Saint James’ Park to face off against Newcastle United, who unleashed new signings Kieran Trippier and Chris Wood.
Both teams wanted to acquire all three points in this relegation six-pointer, but a dramatic draw on the road, where Watford’s new signings stole the show, was enough to keep Watford above the drop zone for the time being.
Watford Claim Draw Against Newcastle With Late Equalizer
Story of Two Transfer Windows
Now the richest team in world football, Newcastle United have wasted no time splashing the funds on reinforcements in a bid to bolster their chances at avoiding relegation.
Wood and Trippier cost around £40 million combined, with more arrivals expected. Watford’s new signings this transfer window, centre-back Samir, left-back Hassane Kamara, and defensive-midfielder Edo Kayembe, have cost less than one-quarter of that sum.
Newcastle United needed more quality, whereas Watford needed defensive reinforcements. Despite spending much less than in the transfer window thus far, it was the Hornets’ new signings who stole the show.
Kayembe dominated from a defensive-midfield position the entire match. He made firm runs forward and was not beaten often while defending.
He is the stalwart in front of the backline Watford have missed since Etienne Capoue left one year ago.
Kamara needed a few minutes to get up to speed following his transfer from OGC Nice, but once he warmed up to the match, he was a huge upgrade on Adam Masina and Danny Rose.
Newcastle United had to attack down the left flank as Kamara locked up their right side. Kamara also smartly got forward on multiple occasions.
Trippier defended well for Newcastle, though his passes were sometimes awry. It was Chris Wood, however, who did not have the ideal debut for his new club.
Samir dominated the aerial match against Wood, ensuring the former Burnley talisman could not muster a shot on target.
He was a composed head throughout the match, tracked back well, passed smartly, and rarely, if at all, put a foot wrong.
Newcastle United Versus Watford Match Review
Newcastle United will be disappointed to drop even more points from a winning position, an all-too-familiar story for the Magpies.
They have fallen down into 19th place, as a Norwich City victory over Everton gave the Canaries a one-point advantage.
Both teams had a fair number of chances throughout the match. The hosts possessed the majority of the attacking threat in the first half, coming close to scoring on a couple of occasions, including a Joelinton effort off of the woodwork.
As expected, however, the Hornets maintained a counterattacking threat throughout.
The 0-0 halftime scoreline was fair, but it was Eddie Howe’s side that came out stinging in the second half. In the 49th minute, Allan Saint-Maximin dispossessed Jeremy Ngakia, made a world-class dribble into the box, and fired the ball into the near corner of Ben Foster’s net.
St James’ Park went into euphoria, with Newcastle United temporarily out of the drop zone in the live table.
The 1-0 lead was at first formidable, but as the match progressed, it grew fragile. Kayembe played a brilliant through-ball to Joshua King who forced a smart stop out of Martin Dubravka. Moussa Sissoko, in his return to his old team, could have scored on a counterattack, though he put too much power on the shot.
Watford started to grow more desperate. Tom Cleverley, Cucho Hernandez, and Kiko Femenia came into the fray. The latter two linked up well on the right flank to enable Femenia to deliver a pinpoint cross in the 88th minute. Joao Pedro rose high above the Newcastle United defense and nodded the ball past Dubravka’s outstretched arms.
All things considered, a draw for Watford was a positive result. Their new signings gelled together with the starting eleven well and that will continue to improve with time.
The momentum gained from a last-minute equalizer can be priceless. Stealing two points and maintaining distance from relegation rivals on their home turf is a positive.
Even though before the match, they would have wanted to return to Hertfordshire with all three points against a side that just crashed out of the FA Cup to Cambridge United, they will still be content with the result, especially with two more relegation six-pointers scheduled in the coming days.
Main Photo
