PREM: Newcastle 1-0 Watford

Ayoze Perez scored for Newcastle

Newcastle recorded their first Premier League victory of the season as Ayoze Perez scored in a 1-0 win over Watford on Saturday.

Having failed to win any of their opening 10 league games of a season for just the second time in their history, the relief around St James Park' was clear to see when the striker headed home (64).

Rafa Benitez's men had to ride their luck at times as Roberto Pereyra hit the crossbar and Gerard Deulofeu was especially wasteful with his finishing in the first half.

The victory, which lifts Newcastle out of the relegation zone, may have come at a cost though as Benitez lost Jamaal Lascelles, Jonjo Shelvey and Yoshinori Muto to injuries.

Watford started brightly and Adrian Mariappa should have punished Newcastle's sloppy marking but he fired wide from eight yards out.

Deulofeu skewed a shot wide from close range after a great run from Jose Holebas but was even more wasteful minutes later when spurning a one-on-one with Newcastle goalkeeper Martin Dubravka.

Team news

Both teams made one change from their previous games with Solomon Rondon replacing Ayoze Perez up top for Newcastle and Jose Holebas came in fro Adam Masina for Watford.

After the break, it was still Watford doing the more creative work in the final third as Newcastle had to adapt to losing both Shelvey, Lascelles and Muto to injuries.

A Watford goal would have knocked Newcastle for six but Pereyra's curling 50th-minute effort came back off the crossbar and Craig Cathcart headed over when well placed.

Newcastle remained in the game and with 25 minutes remaining edged in front. Ki Sung-yueng - Shelvey's replacement - curled in a majestic set-piece which was glanced into the net by Perez. The relief around St James' was clear to see.

Benitez's men closed the game out in relatively solid style but Stefan Okaka should have equalised for Watford in stoppage time but blazed over from eight yards out.