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Match Report

Just..

                     Newcastle United                   1
                                               Gallacer '59

                                          Watford                               0
 
 
 

                                                   Newcastle United edged their way past bottom-of-the-table
                                                   Watford as they failed to impress for the second successive
                                                   home game. Kevin Gallacher's 59th-minute strike secured
                                                   the points on an afternoon when superb goalkeeping and
                                                   some dreadful finishing kept the result in doubt throughout
                                                   the 90 minutes. Alec Chamberlain produced a series of
                                                   excellent saves to deny Gary Speed, Nikos Dabizas and
                                                   Duncan Ferguson, but opposite number Shay Given was just
                                                   as busy, keeping out Heidar Helguson and Allan Smart with
                                                   vital stops.

                                                   Newcastle had enough possession to have won the game
                                                   comfortably, but they were less than at their best and an
                                                   off-day for skipper Alan Shearer did not help. The £15m
                                                   hitman twice wasted gilt-edged opportunities with only the
                                                   keeper to beat as United finally wore down a determined
                                                   Watford defence.

                                                   But manager Bobby Robson always maintained that the
                                                   result was more important than the performance in a game
                                                   his side simply had to win, and while he will have been
                                                   disappointed with some of his side's play, he will be
                                                   satisfied with the points.

                                                   United made two changes to the team beaten 1-0 at home
                                                   by Chelsea last week as Kevin Gallacher returned from injury
                                                   in place of flu victim Kieron Dyer, while Nolberto Solano
                                                   came back for Didier Domi. Watford boss Graham Taylor
                                                   also opted for change as Gifton Noel-Williams, Alex Bonnot
                                                   and Nigel Gibbs made way for Paul Robinson, Richard
                                                   Johnson and Neil Cox.

                                                   Both Robson and his players were at a loss to explain the
                                                   poor display against Chelsea last week, but they were
                                                   determined that it would be nothing more than a blip. But
                                                   as the first half unfolded, they were again unable to break
                                                   down a well-organised defence. Newcastle enjoyed the better
                                                   of the possession, but with central defenders Steve Palmer
                                                   and Robert Page faring well in their battle with Shearer and
                                                   Ferguson, chances were few and far between.

                                                   Indeed it was the visitors who had the better opportunities
                                                   before the break, Helguson forcing a good save from Given
                                                   with a 21st-minute header after dangerman Nordin Wooter
                                                   got away from Aaron Hughes on the right, and Smart also
                                                   failing to beat the keeper after racing clear as the United
                                                   defence waited in vain for an offside flag.

                                                   In the meantime, Warren Barton had whistled a low drive
                                                   just wide of Chamberlain's right post and Shearer and
                                                   Nolberto Solano allowed a promising move to break down
                                                   when they each left the ball for the other inside the penalty
                                                   area. But too often, the men in black and white were guilty
                                                   of not finding their targets as they rained crosses into the
                                                   box, making life relatively comfortable for Chamberlain and
                                                   his defenders.

                                                   Domi replaced Aaron Hughes, who had been suffering from
                                                   flu, at the break and the Frenchman almost made an
                                                   immediate impact as he set up Ferguson for a shot which
                                                   the Scot could only scuff goalwards. But it was Watford again
                                                   who came closest to taking the lead with 52 minutes gone
                                                   when Peter Kennedy headed down Wooter's deep cross and
                                                   Smart saw his close-range effort beaten away by Given.

                                                   The escape seemed spark Newcastle into life, but Shearer
                                                   wasted a glorious opportunity with 58 minutes gone when he
                                                   took advantage of the Watford defence's hesitancy as they
                                                   appealed for offside to race clear but fire his shot against
                                                   the post. The miss did not prove costly when Gallacher
                                                   made up for it within a minute, sliding home Domi's cross
                                                   as the visitors finally wilted.

                                                   Chamberlain produced two superb saves within seconds to
                                                   deny first Speed and then Dabizas, and he again benefited
                                                   from poor play by Shearer on 67 minutes as the England
                                                   striker again made a hash of a one-on-one, a fact he
                                                   acknowledged as he held his head in his hands in disbelief.
                                                   Domi sent an 82nd-minute shot over after cutting in from
                                                   the left, but although Watford pushed for an equaliser until
                                                   the final whistle, the points were won and lost.