Gracia makes point despite VAR
IT was a first point of the season and one which will keep Javi Gracia in a job, at least for now — but the Watford boss should bemoan the inconsistency of VAR after it failed to spot a handball prior to Newcastle’s equaliser.
Gracia was not aware of the incident when he emerged to reflect after breaking a run of six straight defeats, but replays clearly showed an infringement which, under the new guidelines, should have seen the goal ruled out.
Watford were leading thanks to Will Hughes’ early strike and in control when the home team levelled four minutes before the break. All seemed well with Fabian Schar’s close-range finish and there was no suggestion of any wrongdoing when play restarted — there were certainly no complaints from Watford players.
However, replays later showed the ball being diverted into the path of Schar via the hand of team-mate Isaac Hayden, who had jumped to challenge for Emil Krafth’s cross with defender Craig Dawson.
It had echoes of Manchester City’s disallowed goal versus Spurs a fortnight ago when the ball struck Aymeric Laporte’s hand before Gabriel Jesus scored what he thought was the winner, only for VAR to intervene. Gracia was surprised to learn of the apparent injustice. ‘Honestly, I didn’t see it,’ was all he could offer.
It is not Gracia’s job to do so, however, and this is the frustration with VAR. We may not agree with the notion of all goals being disallowed after the ball has struck the hand of an attacking player — intentional or otherwise — but at least be consistent in the application of the Laws.
As it was, perhaps Gracia was simply more relieved to avoid a defeat which would have surely seen him sacked during the international fortnight.
‘I think it’s an important point for us,’ he said. ‘So far in three games we weren’t able to do this. But we need to improve and look forward.’
For Newcastle head coach Steve Bruce, meanwhile, the VAR error was a slice of good luck on a day when his team started poorly, could have won it in the second half but were then fortunate to escape with a point after late Watford pressure.
It was a pretty uninspiring Newcastle display on the whole and one played out in front of the lowest home crowd in nearly seven years.
‘All I can do is try to get on with my job,’ said Bruce when asked about the attendance of 44,157. ‘Hopefully we can move onwards and I’m sure the fans will back if we win a few.’
Supporters were still filing into the Gallowgate when Watford took the lead inside 78 seconds. There was more than an element of good fortune as Tom Cleverley’s shot clattered into two defenders before rolling into the path of Hughes, who gratefully tucked home from six yards.
Newcastle should have been level within two minutes but Miguel Almiron, still without a goal since his £21million arrival in January, miscontrolled inside the six-yard area and allowed goalkeeper Ben Foster to smother. Bruce defended the Paraguayan, who later missed another chance to win the game,
saying: ‘He’s a delight to work with,’ he said. ‘He just needs one goal. But he’s got the appetite, energy and work-rate. I see him train and score every day, so he doesn’t want for confidence.’
Newcastle were lucky to be trailing by only one goal come the time of their equaliser. Watford winger Kiko Femenia had curled over from 18 yards and Andre Gray screwed wide when closer to goal.
Watford, having enjoyed the better of the opening half, came out after the break with little of their earlier intent. ‘We want a sub,’ cried visiting fans but Gracia was not moved, leaving £30m club-record signing Ismaila Sarr on the bench.