A match Newcastle seemed destined to win but then apparently lost ended up yielding a first away point of the season on Saturday - but yet again, their inability to retain a lead was to prove costly.

United had never won at Vicarage Road in ten previous top-flight visits, but should have prospered following Sean Longstaff's long-range strike. The midfielder had sent two previous efforts wide of the target but made no mistake with the third - a sweetly-struck effort from outside the box.

However Lobby's failure to find an empty net after Allan Saint-Maximin had gobbled up Craig Cathcart's back pass and caught out goalkeeper Ben Foster just before half time was the first of several massive chances to seal the victory that the visitors squandered.

Foster denied both Miggy Almiron and Joelinton in the 65th minute before surprise starter Joe Willock (ruled out by Steve Bruce on Friday due to a toe injury) was unable to force his shot home soon after.

That level of wastefulness was almost inevitably punished, Ismaila Sarr heading home after a 72nd minute corner from old boy Danny Rose was flicked on by Josh King. That Miggy gave the corner away needlessly only added to the anguish.

The goal was slightly against the run of play, although United in general were fading and Saint-Maximin in particular was struggling in his role of leading the line. There would be a brief cameo appearance by Dwight Gayle late on - his first PL minutes of the season.

Chances were still made and missed by the blue-clad Magpies though; Ciaran Clark holding his head in his hands after nodding a Matt Ritchie centre wide of the target from close range on 80 minutes.

Three minutes from the end the Hornets looked to have completed their comeback when Karl Darlow pushed a shot from ex-Magpie Moussa Sissoko into the path of  Joshua King, who finished with ease.

King peeled off his shirt (without being cautioned) and celebrated wildly with colleagues and fans - only for VAR official Craig Pawson to rule that the scorer was offside and chalk the goal off.

Having woken up the home crowd, Watford tried to find a legitimate winner as Newcastle stonewalled for a point - evidenced by Karl Darlow's yellow card for apparent time-wasting.

It was to be United who missed the most glaring opportunity to collect three points in added time though; Jacob Murphy galloping forward in the last of fourth additional minutes but failing to chip Foster as he came off his line.

Massive relief for Newcastle's Head Coach then that his side avoided defeat and have now lost just once in their last four outings. Ticking along with an accumulation of points in his eyes, woefully underachieving in ours.

While he may claim to see progress on the field though, it was another day of frustration for the travelling support, watching their side repeatedly pin the opposition on the ropes but fail to administer the knockout blow.

For all Bruce's talk of terrific performances, his side blew the chance of victory against what were sitting ducks and for much of the game were able to get away with free kicks and throw-ins that were beyond sloppy. Set pieces are meant to be a threat to the opposition, not ourselves.

Again there was no lack of effort and retaining the four at the back that they ended the last game with served United well. The absence of Callum Wilson for a third game however overshadows our attacking efforts and and puts too much emphasis on Saint-Maximin. 

It also has to be said that Newcastle enjoyed some moments of good fortune that were ultimately instrumental in them taking a point from this game.

In addition to the home goal being disallowed, United also benefited from another positive VAR decision; Pawson advising that a melee in our box failed to meet the criteria for a penalty.

Debutant referee Gillett meanwhile contrived to award a free kick in favour of Karl Darlow after he cleaned out Tom Cleverley in the first half - and ignored Javier Manquillo braying the ball away when a foul was called, despite the full back already having a yellow card. It's a good job it wasn't Mike Dean.

All that in our favour and we still failed to break our duck at the sixth time of asking, leaving the question hanging of just who we are going to beat. On what we've seen so far, if these teams do meet again next season it's a fair bet it will be in the Championship.

Biffa