Source: Northern_Echo
Magpies flee Hornets nest with three points
NEWCASTLE UNITED'S charge towards the Premier League gathered momentum this afternoon when they brought an end to their long wait for an away win at Watford.[LNB] Rarely did the Championship leaders look in any danger at Vicarage Road after Fabricio Coloccini headed his side in front in just over three minutes.[LNB] Coloccini, a rock at the heart of the defence throughout, celebrated only his second goal for the club when he leapt at the back post to turn Andy Carroll's header across goal beyond goalkeeper Scott Loach.[LNB] And, six minutes after half-time, Carroll added the second when he jumped to nod Danny Guthrie's corner low into Loach's bottom right corner.[LNB] It might not have been the most entertaining of matches, but Newcastle looked comfortable and despite an injury-time striker from Will Hoskins for the home team - went on to seal their first win away from St James' Park since December 9.[LNB] The Magpies, who are now eight points clear of the play-offs and six ahead of second-placed West Brom, should be confident of staying at the pinnacle because this was a result that they ground out when it mattered.[LNB] Hoskins' late strike, when he beat the offside to fire in from close range, increased nerves and hope from the Watford fans of an equaliser, but Newcastle survived.[LNB] And had Carroll's header or acrobatic kick not dropped inches the wrong side of the woodwork the scoreline would have been greater even if top gear was never hit.[LNB] NEWCASTLE UNITED (4-4-2): Harper; Simpson, Williamson, Coloccini, Van Aanholt; Guthrie (Pancrate 89), Nolan, Smith, Gutierrez (Taylor 88); Best (Ranger 74), Carroll: Subs: Hall, Donaldson, Krul (gk), Kadar.[LNB] WATFORD (4-4-2): Loach; Mariappa, Taylor, DeMerit, Doyley; Cowie (McGinn 83), Eustace, Lansbury, Harley (Hoskins 77); Graham, Helguson. Subs: Jenkins, Lee (gk), Henderson, Bryan, Hodson.[LNB]
