Summary

  • Watford winless in last seven league matches

  • Newcastle won only one of last seven away matches in all competitions

  1. Watford 2-1 Newcastle Unitedpublished at 18:47 British Summer Time 5 May 2018

    Watford beat Newcastle to end a run of seven league games without a win and ensure their Premier League survival.

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  2. And there's more live actionpublished at 17:45 British Summer Time 5 May 2018

    Watford 2-1 Newcastle

    That's it from the final match of the season at Vicarage Road, as Watford secure their Premier League status for another season.

    But if you want to see the reaction from today's other Premier League games then click here.

    And don't forget that relegation-threatened Southampton are currently in action at Everton. Click here for live coverage.

  3. 'We'll see if the club respects my contract'published at 17:37 British Summer Time 5 May 2018

    Watford 2-1 Newcastle

    Watford

    Watford manager Javi Gracia on MOTD: "It was very important for the club to stay in the Premier League for another year. Now we have another chance to get more points against Manchester United and finish in the best position in the Premier League the club has ever got.

    "We'll see after the last game if the club respects my contract or will speak with me. But I'm proud to be with this club and I'm happy here."

  4. 'We had more luck than we've had'published at 17:34 British Summer Time 5 May 2018

    Watford 2-1 Newcastle

    Watford

    Watford manager Javi Gracia on MOTD: "We played better in the first half. We could have killed the game and missed a penalty.

    "After that, Newcastle played better and created chances to draw the game but today we were a bit more lucky than in the last games, where we didn't have it. I'm very pleased to achieve the objective today and proud of my players.

    "Many times we have lost points [late on] and today was an important game. We needed the points and the players showed a good attitude, character and desire, and for that I'm very happy."

  5. 'They looked on holiday'published at 17:30 British Summer Time 5 May 2018

    Watford 2-1 Newcastle

    Newcastle United

    Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez on MOTD: "I'm not too worried [about three straight defeats]. The main thing was to stay up and we did it.

    "We have to start with focus and more concentration. The players looked on holiday [in the first half] but they came back.

    "Now we'll see what happen in the next games. The players have done a great job through the season and they've not been doing that recently. But we have two games left and we'll see if they can do that again."

  6. 'We weren't in the game'published at 17:25 British Summer Time 5 May 2018

    Watford 2-1 Newcastle

    Newcastle United

    Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez on MOTD: "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.

    "Second half the team showed more of what we have seen for the majority of the season - mentality, they worked hard and created chances, but we didn't quite do enough to equalise."

  7. 'Playing with Troy is better for me'published at 17:19 British Summer Time 5 May 2018

    Watford 2-1 Newcastle

    Watford

    Andre Gray on MOTD: "It's better for me [to play with Troy Deeney]. You could see in the first half we linked well and played off each other. We created a lot of good opportunities. were denied by the goalkeeper a couple of times and there was the penalty as well. You could see what we can do together and hopefully we can do more.

    "We've only got ourselves to blame for being in this position but it was important got a result today and we managed to do that."

  8. 'We dug in and got the result'published at 17:17 British Summer Time 5 May 2018

    Watford 2-1 Newcastle

    Watford

    Andre Gray on MOTD: "It was a game of two halves in difficult conditions. It was hot out there and your energy was taken away quickly.

    "We got out of the blocks quickly, created chances and were on top in the first half. We were gassed out second half but we dug in and got the result."

  9. 'We have to push a bit more'published at 17:13 British Summer Time 5 May 2018

    Watford 2-1 Newcastle

    Newcastle United

    Ayoze Perez on MOTD: "They could have scored three goals in the first half so it's clear we are doing things wrong.

    "But we have to think positive, we've still got two more games and we're in the same position we were in before. It's getting tighter and if we want to finish in that position we have to push a bit more.

    "We could have made that position safe before and now the other teams are pushing because they want that position. But there's two more to play and hopefully we can pick up the points."

  10. 'It was embarrassing for us'published at 17:09 British Summer Time 5 May 2018

    Watford 2-1 Newcastle

    Newcastle United

    Ayoze Perez on MOTD: "We didn't play well at all in the first half. It was embarrasing for us, it wasn't good enough. That's now three defeats in a row.

    "At the end we pushed them back but we couldn't score. We've got another two games to make it look better but today wasn't good enough."

  11. Party timepublished at 17:05 British Summer Time 5 May 2018

    Watford 2-1 Newcastle

    Troy DeeneyImage source, Reuters

    There's a festival atmosphere at Vicarage Road as the Watford players do a lap of honour to thank the fans for their support this season.

    Will Hughes is a particular favourite, with home fans chanting 'Hughesy for England', before the end-of-season awards are handed out.

  12. Reaction to followpublished at 16:58 British Summer Time 5 May 2018

    Watford 2-1 Newcastle

    This is a third straight defeat for Newcastle but they remain 10th in the Premier League, level with Crystal Palace after their win at Stoke earlier.

    But stay here for reaction to today's game at Vicarage Road, which has edged Watford back up to 13th in the table.

  13. Scenes at the Hawthornspublished at 16:54 British Summer Time 5 May 2018

    Watford 2-1 Newcastle

    West Brom are still alive, though. Click here to check out what's happening in the closing stages at the Hawthorns

  14. FULL-TIMEpublished at 90+4 mins

    Watford 2-1 Newcastle

    Newcastle keep pumping the ball into the box but fail to pick out one of their own men.

    And that's enough for Watford as the final whistle goes, giving them victory in their last home game of the season and securing their place in the Premier League for next season.

  15. Perez pressingpublished at 90+2 mins

    Watford 2-1 Newcastle

    Ayoze Perez brushes off Jose Holebas down the right to whip in a cross but it's too close to keeper Orestis Karnezis at his near post.

  16. INJURY TIMEpublished at 90+1 mins

    Watford 2-1 Newcastle

    Four minutes are indicated for injury time before Matt Ritchie's corner is well taken by Orestis Karnezis.

  17. Pressure buildingpublished at 89 mins

    Watford 2-1 Newcastle

    Ayoze Perez then forces a corner down the right and Matt Ritchie's inswinger is headed behind for another corner.

  18. Merino goes closepublished at 88 mins

    Watford 2-1 Newcastle

    Watford are happy to sit back now, but Newcastle eventually create an opening for Florian Lejeuene down the right.

    His cut-back finds substitute Mikel Merino about 14 yards out but his sidefooted effort is blocked for a corner, from which Watford break.

  19. SUBSTITUTIONpublished at 84 mins

    Watford 2-1 Newcastle

    Last change for Newcastle and they're desperate to salvage a point. Forward Mikel Merino comes on for midfielder Mohamed Diame.

  20. Wait goes on for Richarlisonpublished at 83 mins

    Watford 2-1 Newcastle

    Watford break and the through-ball is on for Abdoulaye Doucoure. He waits for Richarlison to make his run but despite looking right across the line, he still strays offside. Had he just edged back a yard he'd have been clean through on goal.