Watford claimed their first-ever Premier League victory over Newcastle United by earning a 2-1 win at St James' Park.
Odion Ighalo fired the Hornets ahead in the 10th minute with a low strike that beat Tim Krul and found the bottom corner.
The Nigerian then doubled his side's lead when he latched onto a pass from Troy Deeney, before rounding the keeper and sliding into the net.
Daryl Janmaat pulled a goal back for Newcastle after the break with a composed finish, but the Magpies were unable to find an equaliser, as they lost their fourth league match of the season.
Find out how the action unfolded below.
Good afternoon everyone! Following a busy week of European action the Premier League is back and the pressure is already on a number of clubs to perform. Newcastle United are one of those teams and they will be looking to win their first league match of the season as Watford travel to St James' Park.
It has been a miserable start to Steve McClaren's Newcastle career, as the Magpies have drawn two and lost three of their opening five Premier League games. They are currently bottom of the table and their fans will be hoping that another relegation struggle is not on the cards this season.
Making the trip to St James' Park this afternoon are a Watford side who will be buoyed by their start to the campaign. Their only defeat has come against league leaders Manchester City, while a goal from Odion Ighalo earned them a 1-0 victory over Swansea last Saturday.
I think it's about time we checked out which players will be starting this afternoon's match, as the team news has arrived from St James' Park.
NEWCASTLE XI: Krul, Janmaat, Coloccini, Mbemba, Haidara, Colback, Wijnaldum, Sissoko, Thauvin, Perez, Cisse
WATFORD XI: Gomes, Nyom, Cathcart, Prodl, Anya, Capoue, Watson, Abdi, Jurado, Deeney, Ighalo
NEWCASTLE SUBS: Elliot, Lascelles, Williamson, Anita, Obertan, Aarons, De Jong
WATFORD SUBS: Arlauskis, Hoban, Ake, Guedioura, Ibarbo, Berghuis, Diamanti
So, that's how the teams line up this afternoon. Papiss Cisse has kept his place in the Newcastle starting lineup, despite a disappointing evening against West Ham. Ayoze Perez has been brought in to play just behind him, while summer signings Georginio Wijnaldum and Florian Thauvin also start.
Meanwhile, Watford have made one change from their victory against Swansea, as Ben Watson comes in for the suspended Valon Behrami. Last weekend's match winner Odion Ighalo leads the attack, with Troy Deeney and Jose Manuel Jurado also in the attack.
Following last season's relegation struggle, fans of Newcastle were hopeful that their team could get back on track this time around, with Steve McClaren taking over from the heavily criticised John Carver and the club investing a considerable amount of money into their playing squad.
The arrivals of Georginio Wijnaldum, Aleksandar Mitrovic, Florian Thauvin and Chancel Mbemba for a combined total of over £50m during the summer further boosted hopes of a positive campaign. However, after just five games they are fearing the worst and another poor result today could see the pressure increased substantially.
The season didn't actually start too badly for the Magpies, as they played out a 2-2 draw with Southampton in their first match, but they have lost three of their past four games and Monday night's defeat at West Ham will have dented their confidence even further.
They barely showed any attacking threat at Upton Park, and were caught out far too easily at the back by the home side's attack. After the match, McClaren admitted that his team were poor, but he has urged them to respond with a better performance today.
Watford will be hoping to take advantage of the uncertainty at St James' Park by claiming the three points this afternoon. They have made a solid, if unspectacular, start to their Premier League season and have six points on the board after their opening five league matches.
The Hornets almost made the perfect start on the opening day against Everton, but they were twice pegged back and held to a 2-2 draw. Goalless stalemates against West Brom and Southampton followed before an under-strength side lost to Preston in the League Cup.
That was followed up by a 2-0 defeat to Manchester City, but in their next match back after the international break they edged to a narrow win over Swansea for their first win of the campaign. It was their first Premier League win at Vicarage Road since a 4-2 victory over Portsmouth in April 2007.
Having kept three clean sheets already, they have fared better than many teams who have won promotion, but they have yet to really find their form up front. A positive has been Odion Ighalo, who has scored two of their three goals, but captain Troy Deeney, who struck at least 20 in each of the past three seasons, has struggled in the top flight and is yet to find the net.
Newcastle have never lost a match against Watford in the Premier League, with their last defeat coming in the old First Division in 1986. Since then, they have won five of the meetings between the teams, with four of those games ending in draws.
The most recent games between the teams came in the Championship during the 2009/10 season. The Magpies won the first meeting 2-0 at St James' park, before running out 2-1 winners in their next clash, as the eventually won promotion back to the top flight.
We're fast closing in on kick off, but there's still time for you to check out our video preview for today's clash.
There's plenty of action taking place this afternoon, with four other 3pm kick offs. Manchester City are also set to take on West Ham United later this evening, and you can catch every single Premier League game this weekend live with us.
KICKOFF! We are underway at St James' Park!
Watford have made the more commanding start of the two teams this afternoon and they have seen plenty of the ball in the Newcastle half. Ighalo also came close to digging out a cross down the left, before his jinking run was cut out.
SHOT! Ighalo looks full of confidence and he has the first shot of the match. The striker does well to shift the ball past Coloccini and onto his right foot, before firing a strike high over the bar.
CHANCE! Newcastle have certainly not heeded the early warning signs, as Ighalo comes agonizingly close to scoring. A long ball forward is not dealt with by the defence and Nigerian latches onto a flick from Deeney, before dragging a shot from the edge of the box wide of the target.
CHANCE! This game has started at an electric pace and Newcastle come close down the other end of the pitch when Janmaat whips in a teasing cross that Gomes gets nowhere near. The ball then drops to Cisse, who tries to poke an effort goalwards, but the keeper manages to get back in time and save the ball on his line.
GOAL! Newcastle 0-1 Watford (Odion Ighalo)
The visitors have made a bright start to the match and they take the lead at St James' Park. Following a quick break, Watford get plenty of men forward, with Ighalo being found just inside the box by Capoue. The Nigerian then turns on the ball and works some room, before drilling a low strike into the bottom corner and out of the reach of Krul.
That goal has silenced the Newcastle fans and the atmosphere will surely worsen if they concede again. Their defence has looked so open and if they don't tighten up then there are more goals in this for the visitors.
CHANCE! Cisse has not been in great form lately and he has another decent opening for the Magpies. The striker is slipped through down the left by Sissoko and looks to fire in a low strike past Gomes, but he gets his effort all wrong and puts it wide of the target.
Newcastle have seen plenty of the ball since falling behind, but they are giving it away far too cheaply in promising areas. They have lacked a clinical touch in the final third of the pitch and they really can't afford to waste any more chances that come their way.
CHANCE! This is much better from Newcastle, as Haidara drives to the byline and gets onto a ball from Perez, before pulling it back for Sissoko on the edge of the box. The midfielder then looks to place a first-time strike into the top corner, but his effort ends up heading just a few inches wide of the far post.
CLOSE! Watford still remain a threat on the break and Deeney has his first chance of the match with an effort outside of the box. He looks to bend a strike into the corner and beyond Krul but it goes narrowly wide of the target.
It's still the hosts who are seeing more of the ball, but Watford look more dangerous when they are in possession. Aside from a couple of bright moments from Haidara, the Magpies have struggled to get in behind and seriously test their opponents.
SHOT! Newcastle just can't handle Ighalo and the striker gets free down the left once again. He then shifts the ball into space and fires in a low strike, but Krul is there to make a comfortable stop.
GOAL! Newcastle 0-2 Watford (Odion Ighalo)
It goes from bad to worse for Newcastle as Watford open up a two-goal lead with Ighalo scoring his second of the match. The striker times his run to perfection to latch onto Deeney's threaded pass, before taking the ball wide of Krul and sliding a low effort into the back of the net.
Watford have done a great job of silencing the Newcastle supporters this afternoon and they are in control at the moment. They look like scoring every time they come forward, with Ighalo causing no end of problems for their back four.
All of Watford's team feel that they can get a goal at the moment, and Nyom tries his luck from range with a strike that deflects behind for a corner. The visitors are unable to make anything of the resulting set piece, but they are threatening a third goal here.
YELLOW CARD! Abdi is shown a card by the referee for bringing down Thauvin as the Frenchman looked to break clear.
Perez came on and added a spark to the Newcastle attack against West Ham on Monday, but he hasn't made too much of an impact today. His chances have been limited, but he does manage to craft an opening just outside the box with a fierce attempt that he bends the wrong side of the post.
SHOT! Thauvin is always a threat when he gets the ball on his left foot and he manages to cut inside from the right and get in a shot. He hits the ball well enough, but it is straight at Gomes who is able to beat the effort away to safety.
Newcastle are ending the half strongly and they are pushing the Watford defence back deep inside their own half. They have swung a number of crosses into the middle and have had a couple of set pieces, but so far the visitors have managed to deal with their threat.
There are going to be two minutes added on to the end of the first half.
HALF-TIME: Newcastle 0-2 Watford
A chorus of boos ring out around St James' Park, as Watford head into the break with a 2-0 lead over Newcastle United. Odion Ighalo's fine double has given the visitors a massive advantage and they deserve it for the way they have played this afternoon.
© Getty Images
Here's how the statistics shaped up from the opening 45 minutes. It was Newcastle who actually dominated the possession with 58% of the ball, but they only managed six efforts on goal, with two finding the target. Meanwhile, Watford had nine attempts and forced goalkeeper Tim Krul into four saves.
Let's take a look at some of the results from this afternoon's other Premier League matches. Newcastle's biggest rivals Sunderland aren't faring any better than the Magpies, as they are currently losing 2-0 at Bournemouth. Stoke City are 2-0 up against Leicester City and look to be on their way to a first league win of the season, while Saido Berahino has given West Bromwich Albion a half-time lead over Aston Villa on his return to the side.
RESTART! Watford take the kick off and get the second half started.
SUB! Newcastle have made a change at the start of the half, with De Jong coming on for Cisse.
SHOT! Newcastle are still struggling to deal with the Watford front two and Deeney picks up the ball in acres of space around 25 yards out from goal. The striker then looks to fire a low strike past Krul, but his effort takes a slight deflection and goes behind for a corner.
The visitors have taken their chances going forward this afternoon and they have also looked solid at the back. They have plenty of men behind the ball at the moment and they do well to block powerful attempts from Thauvin and Perez.
Watford seem happy to sit back and soak up the pressure from Newcastle and attempt to hit them on the break. They have plenty of pace to get in behind the home side's defence, with their full backs pushing right up the pitch now.
McClaren has already made one change this afternoon and if things continue as they are then it can't be too long until he shuffles his pack again. His side have seen all the ball since the break, but they have not yet been able to trouble Gomes.
In the past few minutes Watford have got forward more and are looking very composed on the ball. There is so much space for them to attack and Deeney is still looking a real threat whenever he gets within range of the goal.
GOAL! Newcastle 1-2 Watford (Daryl Janmaat)
It's game on at St James' Park as Newcastle pull a crucial goal back. Janmaat plays in Sissoko down the right, before racing into the box to latch onto the return from the Frenchman and sliding a composed low finish past Gomes.
Having just given themselves a chance of a comeback, Newcastle almost throw it all away as Deeney bursts free inside the box. He looks to have a clear shot on goal, but Mbemba gets across and makes a superb last-ditch tackle to stop the striker and put the ball out of play.
SAVE! Janmaat is full of confidence after finding the net and he fancies his chances of another goal when he picks the ball up just outside the box. He then drills in a powerful low strike towards the corner, but Gomes flies across his line to push the ball out of play.
Janmaat is providing the inspiration for Newcastle and he collects a short corner before whipping a teasing ball to the back post. De Jong rises to meet the ball, but he can only get a slight flick and send it wide of the target.
Watford had been struggling to get the ball out of their own half, but they are enjoying a decent spell at the moment. They had been coming under a huge deal of pressure, but have relived that at the moment with a period of possession football.
SUB! Newcastle are going to make a change, with Berghuis coming on for Abdi.
The Hornets are still a threat on the counter and Jurado breaks at pace from the midfield. He then spots the run of Nyom to the right and slides in the full-back who drives a low ball across the face of goal that is too far ahead of his teammates and is comfortably cleared by the Newcastle defence.
SAVE! Massive chance for Newcastle to level the scores as De Jong is found by Wijnaldum on the edge of the box. He has Thauvin to his left, but decides to take on the shot and fires in a low effort that is well stopped by Gomes.
SUBS! Changes for both teams, as Ake comes on for Jurado for Watford and Aarons replaces Haidara for the Magpies.
YELLOW CARD! Capoue picks up a booking for a foul on Wijnaldum.
PENALTY APPEAL! Newcastle feel that they should be given a penalty when Prodl appears to catch Perez inside the box. However, the referee believes that the Austrian got a touch on the ball and waves away their complaints.
We've just had a short break in play, with Janmaat going down with cramp. He has put in a great deal of effort to try and get his team back into the match, and after a short spell on the touchline he is quickly back on the pitch.
SUBS! Both teams have made their final changes of the afternoon, as Watford bring on Guedioura for Watson, while Newcastle replace Thauvin with Obertan.
YELLOW CARD! Colback is shown Newcastle's first card of the match for a foul on Ighalo.
CHANCE! Nyom has the chance to wrap up the points for the Hornets when he cuts inside from the right and drives into the box. He then dribbles past a couple of Newcastle players and works some room to shoot, but he can only blaze his effort high into the stands.
There are going to be at least four minutes of stoppage time.
SHOT! Newcastle don't look like grabbing an equaliser and Aarons fails to test Gomes with a wayward strike across goal, after a decent run down the left. They did look like getting back into the match after Janmaat's goal, but time is running out fast now.
FULL-TIME: Newcastle 1-2 Watford
It's all over at St James' Park, as Watford hold on to win their first match against Newcastle in almost 19 years. A first-half double from Odion Ighalo did the damage and the Magpies have now lost four of their opening six Premier League matches.
© Getty Images
Right, that's all from me, but we've got more live football coming up for you now as Manchester City face West Ham United. You can follow all of the action from that clash at the Etihad right here. I hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend. Goodbye!
Written by
Alex Meyers
Alex Meyers
