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Andre Gray slides in for his second goal of the season, which sealed Watford's win

Watford condemned Newcastle to a fourth straight defeat with a comfortable away win at St James' Park.

Will Hughes put Marco Silva's side into the lead in the first half with a well-taken shot that went in off the post.

DeAndre Yedlin's own goal doubled Watford's advantage just before the break, and Andre Gray struck from close range on 62 minutes.

Newcastle's fourth straight defeat sees them slip down to 13th in the table, while Watford's fourth away win of the season leaves them in eighth.

Rafa Benitez's side looked short of threat up front, with two efforts from Joselu their only shots on target.

Watford were impressive in recording their second clean sheet in a row, and are only a point behind Liverpool, Arsenal and Burnley immediately above them.

Silva's road warriors

Marco Silva's side soaked up Newcastle's early pressure before asserting themselves.

For the seventh time this season, they scored at least twice in an away outing, pointing to a desire to not just sit back once a lead has been taken.

Marvin Zeegelaar's touch map shows how he dominated from the left flank up and down the pitch in only his second Premier League appearance

Marvin Zeegelaar and Richarlison combined nicely on the left flank to give the Newcastle defence problems throughout the day.

Gray could have underlined Watford's dominance by scoring a hat-trick, but he saw two shots slip a long way wide after finding himself in space.

The win came at the end of a week during which Silva had been the subject of renewed interest from Everton, and this win demonstrated why the ex-Hull boss is so highly-prized.

Watford, who can now call upon captain Troy Deeney following the end of his three-match ban for violent conduct, face Manchester United, Tottenham and Burnley next.

After that, all their December fixtures are against sides currently below them in the table, giving them a chance of extending their run in the top half of the Premier League.

Problems for Newcastle

Newcastle had risen as high as fourth in the table, albeit after five games of the season, but their downward trajectory is badly timed, given the talk of a potential £300m sale by club owner Mike Ashley to PCP Partners.

Chants for Aleksandar Mitrovic, who Benitez brought on to replace the struggling Joselu in the second half, summed up an air of frustration that was palpable after Watford took the lead.

Rafa Benitez's Newcastle have failed to score while losing two in a row at home

Mohamed Diame made his second Premier League start of the season, replacing the suspended Isaac Hayden, but the Senegalese did not have the impact Benitez would have hoped for.

This defeat was the second successive time that Newcastle had failed to score at St James' Park, and a tough-looking December is on the cards, with trips to Arsenal and Chelsea followed by the visit of current leaders Man City.

What they said

Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez: "We made a couple of mistakes and we paid for that. They had a couple of runs down their left which were difficult to control. We were pushing in the first half, we were on top for a while but then didn't score.

Newcastle mistakes were punished - Benitez

"We have to realise where we are, what we have and where we want to be. I've said before it is going to be a tough season and we have to keep working as hard as possible."

Watford boss Marco Silva: "We won the game, really important for us, we got a fantastic result.

Watford controlled the game - Silva

"We deserved the three points. We had very good moments, we scored the first goal through something we planned. The confidence in some moments was good, we knew they were strong in the long balls and first and second balls and I think we controlled really well.

"It is important for our players to play with this confidence. It is important for them to rest now and we have a hard game against Manchester United on Tuesday."

Man of the match - Marvin Zeegelaar

Marvin Zeegelaar set up Watford's first two goals and was a constant menace on their left flank

Hornets buzzing on the road - the stats

Watford have won more away Premier League points in their seven games this season (13) than they did in 19 on the road in 2016-17 (12).

This was also Watford's biggest away win in the Premier League, and their biggest on the road in the top flight since a 5-1 victory vs Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in May 1986.

Will Hughes has scored in back-to-back league games for the first time in his career.

No player has been involved in more away goals in the Premier League this season than Richarlison (four goals, three assists).

21 points from 13 games marks Watford's joint-best ever start to a top-flight season, equalling the number set in their first ever such campaign in 1982-83, when they finished second.

Newcastle have never won a Premier League game in which they've been two or more goals behind at half-time, drawing three and losing 64.

This is only the second time that Rafael Benitez has suffered back-to-back home defeats in the Premier League as manager, with the other occasion coming with Liverpool in January 2005 (vs Chelsea and Manchester United).

What's next?

Both sides are in action again on Tuesday, 28 November - Newcastle travel to West Brom, while Watford will host Manchester United. Both matches kick off at 20:00 GMT.