Saturday 27 February: Telegraph.co.uk

Watford 1 Newcastle United 2: match report

AND so the Newcastle juggernaut rolls on. What was remarkable about this victory was its almost complete lack of anything to remark on. Two goals, and a six-point lead at the top of Championship, compiled with the minimum of fuss.

Newcastle, long noted for their lassitude south of Watford, looked pin-sharp in the town itself. Watford had not conceded at home so far this year, but within four minutes they had succumbed to the black-and-white blitzkrieg.

Danny Guthrie's free-kick from the left touchline found Andy Carroll, whose header looped across the face of goal. Fabricio Coloccini did the honours, nodding past Scott Loach into the corner of the goal. It was the eighth time this season Newcastle had scored in the first 10 minutes of a game.

Watford attempted to claw their back into a match they had missed the start of, but without the suspended Nathan Cleverly, were unable to lock Newcastle's defence.

The closest they got was Danny Graham's mistimed shot from 12 yards that Steve Harper gathered comfortably.

For their part, Newcastle were content to sit on their lead and neuter Watford's hopeful lofted balls into the channel. The first half rarely threatened to entertain, although the home fans were at least able to cheer the booking of former Watford player Mike Williamson.

But in the second half, just as in the first, Newcastle pounced early. Again Watford failed to mark tightly enough at a Guthrie corner, and six yards out in the centre of the goal, Carroll was allowed to rise unchallenged for the ninth goal of what is fast becoming his breakthrough season.

As sheets of rain began to lash down, prompting jocular chants of "this is unplayable" by the home supporters, Newcastle continued to defend stoutly.

By the time Watford were finally able to breach the dam, Will Hoskins lashing home after Heidar Helguson's shot had deflected off Kevin Nolan, it was too late.

Watford 1 Newcastle 2

CHRIS HUGHTON has told his team to carry on squabbling as Newcastle continued their cruise towards the Premier League.
Alan Smith lashed out at team-mate Mike Wililamson in a bizarre exchange seconds after Watford pulled a goal back in injury-time.

Yet Toon manager Hughton was unconcerned by the incident and even saw the funny side.
But considering Newcastle will be promoted by mid-April, Hughton has every right to be chilled.

He said: "No, they're not always like that! You don't like these moments although they have to be done in the right way and for the right reason.

"The reason was that we were disappointed to concede a goal. But we have a good group of lads that get on very well together and it's been part of the reason why we've done well this season.

"Minutes later in the changing rooms, they were all hugging each other."

Kevin Nolan acted as peacemaker after home sub Will Hoskins scored from close range at the start of stoppage time.
Nolan grinned: "There was a bit of handbags at the end but you are going to get that.
"Willo has headed the ball down and it has gone right to one of their players and no-one was around him.

"Alan has had a pop but he didn't realise that we were marking the other seven behind him.

"It was handbags. We just got on with it. We always have things like that -but I think it is nice and healthy to make sure everyone knows their jobs and we don't put a foot wrong."

Newcastle got the perfect start after just four minutes when Fabricio Coloccini scored with a close-range effort after comfortably beating home defender Adrian Mariappa in the air.

Harley battles with United's Kevin Nolan

Andy Carroll also had a hand in the goal for the visitors and he then scored the second five minutes after the break.
Carroll has now scored 11 times this season, one behind former Bolton midfielder Nolan.

He added: "I think Andy Carroll should be finishing ahead of me in the goalscoring charts.

"I don't want to put pressure on him but for the type of striker he is and the amount of chances we create, that lad should lad should score 15. That goes for Peter Lovenkrands and Leon Best.

"I am happy with the 12 I have got. If I can chip in between now and the end of the season, great.

"But if I don't score between now and the end of the season and we win this league and get promotion, I won't be too concerned."

Yet Watford still gave Newcastle a nervy few minutes courtesy of Hoskins.
And despite the defeat, there is little doubt Watford manager Malky Mackay has done an excellent job when you consider all the turmoil behind the scenes at Vicarage Road this season.

Mackay said: "It's nice that things are now calm behind the scenes. There has been quite a lot of upheaval this season.

"It was disappointing to lose against Newcastle even though they are a top team. I thought we were unlucky to suffer a defeat."

Monday 1 March: Daily Mail

Watford 1 Newcastle 2: Toon temper tantrum as Alan Smith and Mike Williamson clash

ALAN Smith struck out angrily at team-mate Mike Williamson after Newcastle conceded a late goal, but manager Chris Hughton claimed he was pleased at the flare-up.

Hughton said the altercation, which forced Kevin Nolan to separate the two, showed their passion.
Newcastle became infamous in 2005 when Lee Bowyer and Kieron Dyer fought each other, so Hughton should be grateful Nolan prevented the latest on-pitch dispute from escalating.

After failing to win in their previous five away games, table-topping Newcastle were fired up for this battle.
It seemed to be going smoothly, as they took a 2-0 lead, but nerves - and tempers - frayed when Will Hoskins pulled back a late goal for Watford.

'They're not always like that,' said Hughton of the rowing pair. 'You don't like these moments. They have to be done in the right way and for the right reason. The reason was that we were disappointed to concede a goal.

'What it shows is that we've got a group of lads with a real desire not to concede goals. If you go into the changing room a minute after the game, everyone's hugging each other.'

Nolan added: 'Willo headed the ball down and it went right to one of their players and no-one was around him. Alan had a pop but he didn't realise we were marking the other seven behind him. It was handbags and we just got on with it.'

Hoskins' goal came as Newcastle were being pushed on to the defensive, with conditions getting tough due to a downpour in the final 20 minutes.

'It is probably one of the worst pitches we have played on,' said Nolan. 'It doesn't do them justice really, because they are a good passing side. If they had a pitch like ours, they would be higher in the league. It is taking a lot away from them but I know the financial situation they are in.'

Danny Graham heads the ball goalwards

Watford had not conceded at Vicarage Road in 2010, but fell behind after just four minutes. Danny Guthrie's left-sided free-kick was flicked on by Nolan for Andy Carroll. The striker headed the ball to Fabricio Coloccini, who nodded it beyond Scott Loach.

Five minutes after half-time, Newcastle scored again. Guthrie's corner was met by Carroll, who out-jumped Jay DeMerit and headed past Loach. Carroll, who has been charged over an alleged nightclub assault, has scored nine league goals this season.

Nolan said: 'For the type of striker he is and the chances we create, the lad should score 15. We have to support him but he doesn't need too much.'

Watford boss Malky Mackay said: 'The performance was fantastic and a neutral watching the game would admit we were pretty unlucky.'

Monday 1 March: Daily Mirror

Watford 1-2 Newcastle: The Daily Mirror match report

KEVIN Nolan has told his Newcastle team-mates to keep fighting till the end of the season - even among themselves.
The Toon stretched their lead at the top of the Championship to six points with this battling victory at Vicarage Road.

But the most memorable moment of a forgettable match was captain Alan Smith slapping defender Mike Williamson in anger after Watford pulled back a late goal.

It wasn't quite Lee Boywer v Kieron Dyer but you get the idea.
Scouser Kevin Nolan needed to step in and calm down the altercation between the poor man's Craig Bellamy and the new Toon centre-back.

But the former Bolton midfielder insisted the scrap was a good sign as high standards must be maintained for the final 13 games of a bruising campaign.

"There was a bit of handbags at the end but you are going to get that," Nolan said. "Willo has headed the ball down and it has gone right to one of their players and no-one was around him.

"Alan has had a pop but he didn't realise that we were marking the other seven behind him. It was handbags and we just got on with it. We always have one of them - I think it is nice and healthy to make sure everyone knows their jobs and we don't put a foot wrong.

"There was a lot of character shown out there and that is probably something we didn't have in abundance last year.

"We can't afford to look at gaps. We know whatever the gap, the other teams are going to push us all the way so hopefully we will be ready for the fight and we will win the fight."

Newcastle have suffered only one defeat in 19 since Chris Hughton was appointed permanent boss last October - the best start ever by a Magpies manager. And he was delighted with his side's reaction to sub Will Hoskins' late strike.

"I think what it shows is that you've got a group of lads with a real desire not to concede goals and win matches," Hughton said.

"If you go into the changing room a minute after the game, everyone is hugging each other. That's the type of team spirit that you want. Certainly at the moment, we've got that."

On a disgraceful cabbage patch of a pitch, Toon secured their first away win in six matches through two set pieces. After four minutes, Fabricio Coloccini nodded home after Nolan and Andy Carroll had helped on Danny Guthrie's free kick. And the excellent Carroll then headed his 11th goal of the season from Guthrie's corner after 50 minutes.

The 21-year-old Carroll could miss the end of the campaign after appearing in court charged with a nightclub assault last week.

Nolan said: "We don't know what happened but he is a great lad to get on with. Whatever comes of it, comes of it, but hopefully it will be the right way and he can continue to play football and good football at that."

Hornets boss Malky Mackay claimed his side, sitting precariously in 15th place, will survive this season after matching the best team in the Championship for long periods.

Scottish youngster Stephen McGinn earns his first team debut

"I think it would be generous to say they deserved to win," he said.

"If the players continue to give performances like that over the next few weeks, they are going to win more games than they lose.

"We were playing against a team who are first in the league and we have pressed them and had the ball for long spells, and if they do that, we will be OK."