English Premier League

Watford survives relegation after beating Newcastle 2 – 1

The Magpies slipped to a third successive defeat at Watford, who ensured their Premier League survival thanks to first-half goals from Roberto Pereyra and Andre Gray.

Newcastle’s players look as if they are “on holiday”, according to manager Rafael Benitez. Ayoze Perez did pull a goal back in the 55th minute but, despite all their second-half dominance, Newcastle could not find the equaliser.

Wartford

“We have to start with more focus and concentration,” Benitez told BBC Match of the Day. “We were not in the game in the first half. We made too many mistakes and the penalty decision was a surprise. It could have been 3-0.

“In the second half the team showed more of what we have seen for the majority of the season – they worked hard and created chances, but we didn’t quite do enough to equalise.”

Watford got off to the best possible start when Pereyra ended his side’s run of three matches without a goal after just two minutes when he slotted home Abdoulaye Doucoure’s neat reverse pass.

The Argentine then turned provider after 28 minutes as Gray nodded in his cross to score Watford’s second.

Captain Troy Deeney had a golden chance to make it 3-0 from the spot, but Newcastle goalkeeper Martin Dubravka was equal to both Deeney’s penalty kick and the resulting rebound after Paul Dummett had brought down Gray in the box.

The result marked a third straight defeat for Benitez’s side, who threatened an equaliser in the second half as Perez with a deft flick and Mikel Merino with a powerful drive from the edge of the area both went close.

Perez, who was one of Newcastle’s brightest performers on the day, echoed his manager’s sentiment as he described his side’s first-half performance as “embarrassing”.

“We didn’t play well at all in the first half. It wasn’t good enough. That’s now three defeats in a row,” Perez told Match of the Day.

“They could have scored three goals in the first half so it’s clear we are doing things wrong. We pushed them at the end but we couldn’t score. “We’ve got another two games to make it look better but today wasn’t good enough.”