Newcastle 1-0 Watford: A monumental win for the Mags as Ki & Schar change the game for NUFC
What a huge moment this could be in our season.
After 10 bites at the cherry and zero wins before today, we have FINALLY got our first three points of the season, with Ayoze Perez's second half header enough to beat an in-form Watford side - and take us out of the relegation zone.
We rode our luck in the first half - being VERY lucky to go in at the break level - but we really upped it in the second and battled until the end. It was a win borne of character and commitment, and the fans played their part too.
Perez will make the headlines, but Ki and Schar's introduction in the second half turned the game on its head. The South Korean showed urgency, always looked forward and immediately got us on the front foot, with the Swiss centre-back coming on and bossing Isaac Success - also showing real confidence and quality as he brought the ball out from the back.
Rondon put in a big shift too and deserves huge credit. He doesn't look 100% fit, but he did brilliantly to last the full 90 minutes (with us forced into three changes through injury). He bullied their defenders, won plenty in the air and battled from start to finish.
I said a few weeks ago that we had 10 crucial games to turn around our season. Three have now passed, but we've got that all important first win of the season.
Here’s the seven games we're now face between now and Christmas:
- Bournemouth (H)
- Burnley (A)
- West Ham (H)
- Everton (A)
- Wolves (H)
- Huddersfield (A)
- Fulham (H)
Let's hope we can now kick on and get a real run going between now and the new year.
For once this season, Match of the Day will be a good watch tonight!
