Newcastle United 1-2 Watford

Odion Ighalo has the best strike rate in the top four divisions in England in 2015

Newcastle's winless start to the season continued as Odion Ighalo's double led Watford to a second successive victory.

Nigeria international Ighalo, who has now scored 20 goals in 24 league games in 2015, beat Tim Krul at the near post for the 26-year-old's first early on.

The striker then took Troy Deeney's pass to round Krul before the break.

Newcastle sent in 40 crosses, including from set plays, but only four found their target

Daryl Janmaat gave Newcastle a lifeline from close range but Steve McClaren's side struggled to create chances despite moving off the bottom.

The Magpies overtook fellow strugglers Sunderland after their 2-0 defeat by Bournemouth, representing one of the few positives on another miserable day for home supporters at St James' Park.

They have seen their team win only three of 25 Premier League games in 2015 and despite a second-half improvement led almost single-handedly by Dutch right-back Janmaat, they have only scored three goals in six league games this season.

Their depressing form matches last term when Newcastle were winless in their first seven league games before winning five in succession under former boss Alan Pardew.

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McClaren's woes continue

Steve McClaren has won two of his last 19 league games in charge of Derby and Newcastle, with one of those against already relegated Blackpool last season

Former England boss McClaren said before the match that trying to turn around the fortunes of Newcastle, who narrowly missed out on relegation last season, was "a little bit like a car crash".

And his side looked bereft of drive in the first half where Watford broke quickly and had the finishing touch required in the form of the impressive Ighalo.

Newcastle repeatedly attacked down the wings, but with only four of 40 crosses finding their target, and Papiss Cisse being withdrawn at half-time after missing one decent chance, there was a lack of cutting edge.

Florian Thauvin was the most lively of Newcastle's attackers but it took Janmaat's intervention to get them back into the game, the full-back finishing well after a one-two with Moussa Sissoko.

Boos rang out from some home supporters at the end of the game, and with Chelsea and Manchester City up next, McClaren's task is not about to get any easier.

Man of the match - Deeney the perfect foil

Odion Ighalo was ably supported by Troy Deeney, who has set up three of his goals this season

Ighalo provided the composure in front of goal that Newcastle were lacking as he extended a fabulous scoring run that has made him the most prolific striker in England's top four divisions this year.

However, he was indebted to Watford skipper Troy Deeney, who was tireless in his support play and set up the second goal with a clever ball in behind the Newcastle defence.

Three of Ighalo's four Premier League goals this season have been assisted by his strike partner.

Ben Watson and Etienne Capoue guarded the Watford defence ably

A tireless team effort

Deeney was not alone in putting in an impressive shift for the visitors.

Once Watford had established their lead they defended superbly as Newcastle threatened from the flanks.

A solid display by the Hornets' back four was aided by convincing performances from defensive midfielders Etienne Capoue and Ben Watson, who made his first Premier League start of the season.

Watford boss Quique Sanchez Flores was beaming at full-time, and with good cause after a performance in which his players always seemed to offer support to team-mates, whether in attack or defence.

Manager reaction

Newcastle boss Steve McClaren: "I am trying to change a lot and being here two-and-a-half months, it is very difficult to change things around quickly. I think Newcastle have won three games in the last 25, after a good run in November last year, so there is history there that needs changing and turning around."

Watford boss Quique Sanchez Flores: "We deserved it because we played really well. We have a very positive mentality and we always think we can win games.

"I am really pleased we have so much confidence. We are building a new team but we are playing as if we have played together for a long time."

Stats you need to know

• Steve McClaren has gone 10 Premier League games without a victory (six at Newcastle, four at Middlesbrough), his longest run without a win in the English top-flight

• This was only the third time in their Premier League history that Watford led by two goals at half-time, and the first time away from home

• Moussa Sissoko assisted his first Premier League goal since February (v Stoke City)

• This was just Watford's fourth Premier League victory away from Vicarage Road (of 13 Premier League wins)