NEWCASTLE UNITED remain rooted in the relegation zone after crashing to a 2-1 defeat at Watford.

Despite once again carving out a number of decent opportunities, the Magpies suffered a fourth successive away defeat by a one-goal margin and remain one point behind 17th-placed Swansea City, who travel to Everton tomorrow.

Both of Watford’s goals came within the first 13 minutes of the second half, with Odion Ighalo galloping clear of the Newcastle defence to score the first and Craig Cathcart driving home from close range to double his side’s advantage.

The Magpies pulled a goal back with 19 minutes remaining when Jamaal Lascelles headed home his first goal for the club from a corner, but substitutes Ayoze Perez and Yoan Gouffran wasted decent late opportunities to claim an equaliser.

As a result, Newcastle’s remain in serious trouble close to the foot of the table, and events in the final eight days of the transfer window could be crucial to their prospects of survival.

Steve McClaren made three changes to the side that had beaten West Ham United last weekend, but the most notable alteration was a radical change in formation.

Lascelles came in as a third centre-half, with the recalled Rolando Aarons and Daryl Janmaat lining up as wing-backs in a 3-4-2-1 formation.

Newcastle’s players had been working on a three-man defence in training last week, and while they would eventually be undone twice at the start of the second half, they initially started reasonably well.

It was the 16th minute before Watford were able to create their first opportunity, and by that stage, Newcastle had already fashioned a couple of decent chances of their own.

The first came with just three minutes on the clock, and saw Georginio Wijnaldum tee up Aarons for a shot that fizzed past the right-hand post from the edge of the penalty area.

The second came courtesy of a slick counter-attacking break that ended with Moussa Sissoko only narrowly failing to connect with Wijnaldum’s driven cross from the left-hand side.

Watford’s first opening came to nothing when Janmaat blocked Troy Deeney’s shot in the area, but the Hornets would have claimed the lead a minute later had it not been for an excellent double-save from Rob Elliot.

Not only did the Newcastle goalkeeper parry Elliot’s strike from inside the area, he also got down superbly to keep out Etienne Capoue’s rebound when the midfielder looked certain to score.

The Magpies’ bright start had faded by that stage, and as the half wore on, Watford began to dominate possession, with their opponent giving the ball away cheaply.

Newcastle’s efforts were not helped by Aleksandar Mitrovic’s persistent failure to hold the ball up in attack, with the Serbian striker coming off second best on countless occasions.

Mitrovic’s poor form has been a feature of the last few weeks, and when an opportunity finally presented halfway through the first half, Newcastle’s lone striker was unable to convert it.

Sissoko played the ball forward, Wijnaldum touched it off in Mitrovic’s path, but the shot that followed was a poor effort that was diverted over the crossbar by Heurelho Gomes’ legs.

The final chance of the first half saw Jose Manuel Jurado curl over the crossbar after Deeney passed up a presentable opportunity in the box, but there was to be no let off for the visitors when Watford attacked again in the first minute of the second half.

Deeney’s through ball unlocked the Newcastle back four, and while Ighalo might have been marginally offside as he raced clear, he was allowed to continue into the box.

Ighalo scored both of Watford’s goals in their 2-1 win at St James’ Park in September, and he held his nerve superbly again to round Elliot and casually slot home.

Newcastle’s response was limited to a Mitrovic effort that flew well wide of the target, and with the hosts suddenly swarming all over their opponents, Watford doubled their lead two minutes before the hour mark.

If the absence of an offside flag could be cited as a mitigating factor for the first goal, there were no excuses for the second, with Newcastle’s defenders failing to make a challenge as the ball was delivered into the area.

Ighalo touched it into the path of Cathcart, and the defender was able to drill past Elliot from eight yards out.

McClaren attempted to change things with the introduction of Perez and Gouffran, but the pair could only produce a pair of headers that underlined why Newcastle are struggling in the bottom three.

Gouffran’s header from a Perez cross flew miles wide, and it was followed by a Perez effort from a Sissoko centre that missed the goal by a full ten yards. They were two dreadful efforts that once again highlighted the chronic need for a proven goalscorer before the transfer window closes on February 1.  

Thankfully, Lascelles’ aerial abilities were more polished when he met Jonjo Shelvey’s right-wing corner with 19 minutes remaining.

Having charged towards the edge of the six-yard box, Lascelles powered home an excellent downward header.

Suddenly, Newcastle were re-energised, but after Wijnaldum played Perez into a good position down the right-hand side, the Spaniard wastefully blazed over the crossbar.

Elliot had to be his most alert to keep out Ighalo’s effort at the other end, with the striker bursting past Lascelles before driving in an effort that was tipped over at the near post, and Capoue wasted a great chance to make things safe when he shot over with four minutes left.

Watford (4-2-3-1): Gomes; Paredes (Nyom 88), Britos, Catchart, Ake; Capoue, Watson; Behrami, Deeney (Amrabat 90), Jurado (Abdi 77); Ighalo.

Subs (not used): Pantilimon (gk), Prodl, Guedioura, Anya.

Newcastle (3-4-2-1): Elliot; Lascelles, Coloccini (Riviere 88), Mbemba; Janmaat, Saivet (Perez 58), Shelvey, Aarons (Gouffran 58); Sissoko, Wijnaldum; Mitrovic.

Subs (not used): Darlow (gk), Taylor, Marveaux, Thauvin.