Watford 2-1 Newcastle: Troy Deeney scores penalty brace as Hornets take big step towards safety

As Troy Deeney wrote in his programme notes before this match against Newcastle, his name is “synonymous” with Watford.

Love or loathe him, Deeney has a knack of being the man for the big occasion when it comes to Watford’s history.

His play-off goal against Leicester City in 2013, his penalty against Wolves in the FA Cup semi-final last year and now this brace against Newcastle.

They were hardly the most eye-catching of goals as Deeney slammed home two second-half penalties, but they should just be what keeps Watford in the Premier League this season.

After this win over Newcastle, the Hornets are now six points clear of the relegation places with three games to go and, barring a remarkable run of form from Aston Villa or Bournemouth, their top-flight status looks secure.

In an era when finances will be hit hard due to the Covid-19 pandemic, survival matters more than most this season and the fact Deeney has fired Watford to within touching distance of it is telling.

The captain has not been in the best of form since football returned from lockdown - something internet trolls reminded him of this week - but he kept his cool and answered the critics on Saturday.

“I'm lucky to have a close circle of friends, who are harsher on me than any journalist, commentator or keyboard warrior,” Deeney said in his programme notes.

He won’t have to deal with any criticism after this win, though, as Watford took a huge step towards survival.

Long before Deeney’s penalties, however, this match did not start well for the hosts as Newcastle shrugged off their hangover from a 5-0 loss to Manchester City on Wednesday to start brightly.

They were the better side in the first half and - despite Danny Welbeck striking the post - deservedly led after 23 minutes through Dwight Gayle.

It was an easy goal that summed up Watford’s poor first-half display, with Newcastle defender Federico Fernandez able to flick on a corner unmarked for Gayle to tap home, again, unmarked.

The cries of “wake up” from Ben Foster were entirely justified. But it was the goalkeeper who had to be alert 10 minutes before the break to get down low and deny Allan Saint-Maximin when the Frenchman had raced through on goal.

That save ensured Watford went in only 1-0 down at half-time and, seven minutes after the break, they were level through Deeney.

The striker had previously not scored since February, but he slammed home a penalty after Matt Ritchie had brought down Kiko Femenia.

With that goal the momentum of the match shifted and Watford were suddenly pushing for a winner, with Deeney, Welbeck and Abdoulaye Doucoure all going close.

As the game ticked by you thought the goal wasn’t going to come but then, nine minutes from the end, the Hornets finally took the lead.

Ismaila Sarr was bundled over in the box by Javier Manquillo and referee Craig Pawson pointed to the spot.

Deeney stepped up once more, hammered the ball home and wrote himself into Watford’s history again.

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