Magpies are heads above Hornets
A late resurgence could not prevent Watford from slipping to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Championship leaders Newcastle on Saturday.
Despite being the better team for a large part of the game, the Hornets could only muster a late Will Hoskins goal having trailed the Magpies since the fourth minute.
Heavy rain and an increasingly cut up pitch made life difficult for both teams, but an early Fabricio Coloccini headed goal ensured Malky Mackay's men quickly faced an uphill battle.
A second for United from Andy Carroll after the break set the visitors on their way to another victory.
However a reactionary offensive from Watford resulted in a late strike from Hoskins, but it was too late for the Hornets.
Watford were without Tom Cleverley for the fixture, the Man Utd loanee facing the first of a three match ban following a straight red card at Scunthorpe.
The presence of former Hornet Mike Williamson in the Newcastle defence was roundly met with boos, the centre-back an unpopular figure following the controversial manner in which he departed the Hertfordshire club in the summer.
After a shock relegation from the Premiership last season, the Toon Army lined up with the sort of quality one would expect from a team on the promotion hunt, and it quickly paid dividends.
Two Argentinean internationals played a part in the Magpies' opener, first with Jonas Gutierrez winning a free kick on the left wing and Danny Guthrie's resulting free kick eventually finding the head of Coloccini, who nodded past Loach.
With conditions making passing difficult, chances were few and far between, but a Danny Graham shot forced a save out of Steve Harper.
A neat flick from Carroll almost deceived Scott Loach but aside from a number of bookings for the visiting team, most notably that of Williamson, there was little more action before the interval.
A typically feisty challenge from United captain Alan Smith earned him a yellow, but his team doubled their lead soon after.
A routine corner from the left was met by the towering head of Carroll on 51 minutes and there was little Loach could do.
Not ready to dwell on the disappointment of the goals conceded, Mackay's men came forward in search of goals.
Some fierce pressure on the Magpies' goal resulted in several corners but Chris Hughton's men remained solid on the increasingly treacherous Vicarage Road playing surface.
January signing Stephen McGinn made his first outing as a late sub, the young Scot unable to connect with a volleying opportunity with sight of goal.
With extra time on the clock, Watford finally made a breakthrough after Heidar Helguson's rebounded shot was smashed in from close range by Hoskins.
The Hornets pushed the action until the whistle but the day belonged to the visitors.
Mackay founds the positives despite losing out to the league leaders:
"When you look at the balance of play I think we deserved something out of the game today.
"At times it (the pitch] looks awful and I think that we didn't just resort to getting it and kicking it, I think that there were areas of the pitch where we exposed them.
"I think it was our final ball that let us down today because we certainly got into the forward areas well."
The Vicarage Road pitch faced up to further wear and tear during Saracens' home game on Sunday, but now has until next Tuesday to recover before the Hornets meet Swansea City.
First they face a tough trip to in-form Derby County on Saturday, Mackay's men laying a single place above the Rams in the league table in 15th place, although the Hornets do have two games in hand over Nigel Clough's men.
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Weather for Tring
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: East
