Two well taken goals by Oba Martins took Newcastle to four wins in their last five league games on Saturday.

The 2-1 win over a game and courageous Watford team, who currently prop up the Premier leaugue, was a hard fought and close game that looked much easier on paper.

However, as we know there are very few games these days that are easy.

Newcastle started well and looked sharp, with both Dyer and Emre back in the side, but as the game progressed Watford showed they were going to make a fight of it.

Just after half time Martins got his first goal on 49 minutes, from a beautifully flighted cross from James Milner on the right, Martins rose unchallenged to head the ball emphatically past stand-in goalkeeper Richard Lee.

But after the breakthrough was made Watford were level within six minutes and Newcastle once again conceded from a set piece. From a corner Bouazza bundled the ball (and it seemed Shay Given with it) over the line. While the defense has been much better of late we are still weak from set pieces and certainly this aspect of our game needs to be improved

From that point on Watford had chances in the second half to put the game away until up popped Oba Martins again on 85 minutes.

Damien Duff ( on as a substitute for the injured Emre after 68 mins) took the ball down the left and managed to get a low cross into the area. It got through to Martins on the penalty spot and he unleashed a dynamite shot into the roof of the net for his fifth goal in four games - to the crowd’s absolute delight.

Martins is fast becoming the player we had hoped for - who puts away these half chances - and he is so quick in thought and deed that he looks like he will score lots oif goals now he has acclimitized to the pace of the league. Owen and Martins will indeed scare the daylights out of many defenses next season.

Certainly Oba was the difference between the two sides in this game.

With Ramage and Taylor again looking like a solid defensive pairing - Newcastle just about deserved this victory, their third league win in a row at St James’ and their fourth league win in the last five.

The other good news is that Dyer is back along with Duff and skipper Scott Parker, so for once, Roeder will have some selection problems for the league cup tie against Chelsea on Wednesday evening.

It looks like Butt (another good game) and Parker will be at the center of midfield, with Emre injured and Dyer will probably be rested in preparation for the home league game against Tottenham next Saturday. With Babayaro suspended we may also see Damien Duff as an emergency left back against his old club.

This was a game Newcastle should have won on paper - and they did, though it was hardly easy or routine but this keeps up Newcastle’s resurgence since the disastrous game against Sheffield United at the beginning of November….and we are now respectably positioned 12th in the league.

Now for Chelsea on Wednesday.