Watford made it two Premier League wins in a row by defeating Newcastle United 2-1 on the weekend.
The Hornets continued their bright start to the new season courtesy of a first-half Odion Ighalo brace to heap more misery on the Magpies who have just two points to their name after six matches.
Ighalo rifled home in the 10th minute after some good lead-up play from Troy Deeney and Etienne Capoue before adding a second 18 minutes later when he raced onto skipper Deeney's lovely ball to beat a stunned Tim Krul.
Newcastle pulled one back through Daryl Janmaat just after the hour-mark but it was not enough as Quique Flores' Watford side, who occupy 10th position, forced even further pressure onto Steve McClaren and his Magpies.
MATCH OVERVIEW
Newcastle United: 1 (Daryl Janmaat 62')
Watford: 2 (Odion Ighalo 10'/28')
St James' Park, Newcastle-upon-Tyne - 47,806
TALKING POINTS
- Where to now for Newcastle? A horrid start under McClaren. Can they fight back?
- Watford seem to be relishing the challenge of playing top flight football. Can this continue under Flores?
- Ighalo has enjoyed a brilliant start to his top flight career after almost leaving for China in the summer, scoring 4 of 5 Watford goals.
WHAT'S NEXT?
Newcastle host Sheffield Wednesday in the Capital One Cup on Wednesday before they welcome reigning champions Chelsea in the league while Watford will host Crystal Palace on Sunday as they get a rest from cup duties.
TWITTER INSIGHT
2nd victory . We keep improving. Thanks to the fans for their support in the stadium.
2a Victoria y mejorando! pic.twitter.com/MFsO7HtCtb
— José Manuel Jurado (@Jurado10Marin) September 19, 2015Fantastic support great back to back wins @ighalojude is on
— Troy Deeney (@T_Deeney) September 19, 2015REACTION: @daryljanmaat89 fronts up after today's defeat at St. James' Park. #NUFCpic.twitter.com/2q7dYfkhJ2
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) September 19, 2015
QUOTES CORNER
Watford boss Flores on Ighalo who now has four of his side's five league goals:
"He took a decision two months ago to stay here at Watford - he had offers from other teams.
"He decided to stay here with us, so it's clever because he saw something in the football that is good for him."
Newcastle's McClaren on the club's difficult start:
"I am under no illusions, this is a hard job - everybody knew that and you know it. You want proof, we've got proof. We are lucky that it's early - it's only two and a half months that we've been working with each other and there's a long way to go and a lot of things to do."
STATS SPECIALS
*Thanks to Opta
19 - Odion Ighalo has scored more goals than any other player in the top four English tiers in 2015 (19). Clinical.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) September 19, 20153 - Three of Watford's five league goals this season have been scored by Ighalo and assisted by Deeney. Combination.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) September 19, 2015
TEAM LEADERS
NEWCASTLE
Goals - Papiss Cisse, Gini Wijnaldum, Daryl Janmaat 1
Assists - Gabriel Obertan, Moussa Sissoko 1
Clean sheets - Tim Krul 1
Yellow cards - Jack Colback, Daryl Janmaat 3
Red cards - Daryl Janmaat, Aleksandar Mitrovic 1
WATFORD
Goals - Odion Ighalo 4
Assists - Troy Deeney 3
Clean sheets - Heurelho Gomes 3
Yellow cards - Allan Nyom, Etienne Capoue 2
Red cards - Valon Behrami 1
