Newcastle United: 3 things we learned from the 1-0 win vs. Watford

Newcastle United claimed their first victory of the season yesterday with a strong second half performance against Watford.

Yes, it finally happened – Newcastle United won their first match of the season after 11 weeks of Premier League action. The Magpies played decent football in the first half, but their offensive commitment in the second half is what granted the home side three crucial points against Watford.

This victory should revive some lost confidence ahead of next weekend’s match against Bournemouth. Before looking ahead to next Saturday, though, let us analyze some key observations from this weekend’s victory over Watford.

Thank You, Ki Sung-yueng

It was disappointing to see Ki Sung-yueng on the bench to start the match, but it was a joy to see him run on to the pitch in the second half, even though most supporters would have hoped he was replacing Mohamed Diame and not Jonjo Shelvey (injury).

The South Korean international played extremely well and what stood out was his composure and passing accuracy. Ki maintained great ball control and he found open players down the middle and on the wings with precise passes. Ki also displayed his ability to move the ball forward  and get involved in the attack, which is what Newcastle have lacked all season from it’s central midfielders.

His free-kick in the 65th minute curled around most defenders and Ayoze Perez was able to head it in the back of the net for the game-winning goal. With his performance on Saturday, Ki proved once more that he deserves to start for Newcastle United and he should going forward.

Fabian Schar’s Performance

It is about time that Rafa Benitez gave Fabian Schar a chance to break into the rotation. It is unfortunate that Jamaal Lascelles had to leave the match after 45 minutes, but it was also great to see the Swiss international defender showcase his skills on the back-line.

Back in August, I claimed that Schar would be the best defender on the roster and he certainly made the case for that on Saturday. Once Schar stepped on the field, Watford’s attack looked like it kept running into a wall. Players like Roberto Pereyra and Gerard Deulofeu were no longer able to find openings to enter the penalty area.

Schar earned the praise of Toon supporters with his aggressive defending as he closed down every passing lane, made some important tackles and played with sufficient urgency to contribute to Newcastle’s victory. Benitez will have to think long and hard about his lineup going forward thanks to Schar’s performance against the Hornets.

Fourth Clean Sheet

With four clean sheets in 11 matches, Newcastle have something to be proud of. The defensive stability and solidity that Newcastle boasted last season is starting to take shape this term. In most cases, elite clubs say that defense wins titles. Well, seeing what Newcastle’s circumstances currently are, a better statement would be that defense avoids relegation. Newcastle will have a difficult task next weekend against a high-scoring Bournemouth side, but the key to a positive result is aggression and composure on the back-line.