Source: Northern_Echo
Magpies still flying high after gritty win
Newcastle United made it six wins in six after a 2-0 victory over a competitive Watford side thanks to goals from Peter Lovenkrands and substitute Fabrice Pancrate. United opened the scoring when Lovenkrands tapped following good work by Marlon Harewood and increased their lead seven minutes from time with a blockbuster from Pancrate in a contest which saw Kevin Nolan sent off three minutes after the break for a second bookable offence. Harewood deserves to take all the plaudits for the opening goal when he chased down what looked like a hopeless cause. But somehow the on loan striker managed to turn a poor back pass into a 50/50 ball and his slide tackle with Hornets goalkeeper Scott Loach found a welcoming Lovenkrands, who had the simple task of tapping into an empty net with 20 minutes played. Pancrate's fine strike was all his own work however when he cut inside the fullback and into the box and blasted in off the crossbar to record his first goal for the club. Manager Chris Hughton opted to remain unchanged from last week's 3-0 home victory over Swansea, which meant Peter Lovenkrands and Marlon Harewood were paired up front again, while Andy Carroll, returning from illness, had to be content with a place on the bench. The home side were positive from the off and created several openings in the first half and were unfortunate only to be 1-0 up. Kevin Nolan went close in the fourth minute when a bit of Harewood trickery set the former Bolton midfielder racing in on goal, only for him to scuff his effort before Watford goalkeeper Scott Roach scrambled the ball away to safety. Five minutes later the hosts missed yet another glorious chance to open the scoring when Jose Enrique found an unmarked Lovenkrands from eight yards only for the Dane to volley wide. But the Magpies did not have it all their way and some slack defending almost allowed the Hornets to open their own account. Gateshead born striker Danny Graham nearly levelled for Malky MacKay's side when he rounded Steve Harper only to see Steven Taylor clear his goal bound shot off the line. And fellow strike partner Heider Helguson was making a nuisance of himself. The Watford frontman went close with a blazing free kick, while five minutes before the break the Iceland striker made Harper pull off a fine save when he managed to get around the back of a dozing United back four. Newcastle were up against it almost immediately after the break when Kevin Nolan was sent off for a second yellow card. Hughton reshuffled his pack and brought on Carroll for Harewood dropped Lovenkrands to right midfield and played with a lone striker. United's goalscorer was later substituted for Micky Butt as the hosts tried to protect their lead as the visitors showed signs of getting back into the game. Helguson went close on three occasions, forcing Harper into action as well as missing the target. But for all Watford's pressure against the ten men of Newcastle they couldn't make their possession count and the home side hit the opponents on the break to secure all three points and maintain their two points lead at the top after West Brom won at Derby.[LNB]
