Will Hughes 8, Troy Deeney 7; Federico Fernandez 4: Watford v Newcastle player ratings

Vital win for Hornets in their battle to avoid relegation from the Premier League

WATFORD RATINGS: Ben Foster - 7: Good stops from Almiron and Saint-Maximin in first half. Reuters

Kiko Femenia - 7: Excellent challenge and interception to stop Almiron's counter-attacking charge from in his own half during the first period. Drew in challenge by Ritchie to earn his side's first penalty. Getty

Christian Kabasele - 7: Up against it at times in the first half but stuck to task as Watford took control of game after the break. PA

Craig Dawson - 7: Assured performance in defence with one perfectly timed challenge to stop Almiron in second half. Getty

Adam Masina 6: Testing day for the Italian as he came up against the pace of Saint-Maximin and Almiron. EPA

Etienne Capoue - 6: Poor concentration when he allowed Fernandez a free header to set up Newcastle goal from a corner. Getty

Will Hughes - 8: Tenacious in the tackle, never stopped harrying Newcastle in possession and the fulcrum to Watford's win. Getty

Ismaila Sarr - 7: Struggled to make any impact in disappointing first-half show. Improved after the break and forced clumsy challenge out of Manquillo to earn second penalty. Reuters

Abdoulaye Doucoure - 6: Should have done better with second-half chance but failed to trouble Dubravka. Getty

Danny Welbeck - 6: Had good chance in second half but his shot was deflected over the bar by some desperate Newcastle defending. Getty

Troy Deeney - 7: Relieved to have ended goal drought with two from penalty spot but should have scored another when gifted chance by Fernandez but could only fire straight at Dubravka. Also denied chance to make it 3-1 by great Lascelles challenge. Reuters

SUBS: Tom Cleverley (On for Deeney 85'): NA. Getty

Andre Gray (On for Welbeck 90') NA. Reuters

NEWCASTLE RATINGS: Martin Dubravka - 7: Got close to both penalties hit pretty much down the middle but beaten by power. Good handling from crosses throughout. AFP

Javier Manquillo - 4: Poor performance from the Spanish full-back. Never looked comfortable on either flank and gave away the foul for second Watford penalty. Getty

Federico Fernandez - 4: A rare off day for the usually reliable Argentine centre-half. Almost gifted Watford two goals and booked for clumsy foul. Getty

Jamaal Lascelles - 7: Vital clearance off the line in first half after Welbeck's shot had hit the post. Great block to deny Deeney after break. Booked for cynical foul to stop Doucoure when the French midfielder was bearing down on Newcastle goal and went off injured before the end. Getty

Danny Rose - 6: Mixed bag from the full-back. Flashes of quality to show why he has won 29 England caps but also incurred wrath of teammates when he allowed Welbeck a chance to cross into box in first half. Getty

Jonjo Shelvey - 6: Centre-midfielder sprays the ball out wide so well. One perfect cross across the penalty area in first half that was crying out for a finish. Influence waned as match went on. Reuters

Matt Ritchie - 6: Brilliant cross to find Fernandez whose header set up Gayle for opening goal. Poor challenge on Femenia to give away penalty. Getty

Miguel Almiron - 6: Saw his first-time shot from tight angle in first half blocked well from Foster. Showed his electric pace on one marauding count-attack from one end of the pitch to the other. Like rest of Newcastle attack, disappeared after first Watford goal. Reuters

Allan Saint-Maximin - 7: Nominated for Premier League player of the month, the winger was his usual mixture of brilliant attacking play and frustrating end product. Will have been disappointed not have scored in first half when emerging through one-on-one with Foster only for keeper to block with his feet. Getty

Dwight Gayle - 7: Classic poacher's finish from one-yard out to give side the lead. A handful up front. Reuters

SUBS: Joelinton (On for Ritchie 72') 6: Overhit pass when had chance to put Gayle through on goal. Reuters

Nabil Bentaleb (On for Gayle 78'): NA. Getty

Valentino Lazaro (On for Lascelles 87') NA. Getty

Emil Krafth (On for Rose 79'): NA. AP

Watford striker Troy Deeney eased their relegation fears with two second-half penalties as they beat Newcastle United 2-1 on Saturday for their second straight Premier League victory.

Deeney blasted his spot kicks straight down the middle in the 52nd and 82nd minutes to give the home side a win which leaves them 17th on 34 points with three games to play, six ahead of third-bottom Bournemouth who have a game in hand.

Dwight Gayle had put mid-table Newcastle –  who were the better team in the first half – ahead after 23 minutes when he steered the ball home after a glancing header from a corner by teammate Federico Fernandez which looked to be heading in at the far post.

Watford manager Nigel Pearson insisted the mission to avoid relegation "isn't finished yet."

"We've had a difficult season," he said. "When players are dealing with disappointment on a regular basis it's hard to go out and play with confidence.

"We have to keep focus, don't think the job is done. We are working hard – back in December it didn't look possible but throughout it all we have tried to remain positive."

Newcastle manager Steve Bruce felt his team were harshly treated by the penalty calls. “From where I was, the first penalty looked soft and they are the big defining moments in games," he said.

"To lose that game on two penalties, the way they were, you could say we are a bit naive but they were both really, really soft and when they are given against us, you do scratch your head at times and think what’s the point of the [VAR] technology for?"