Watford took a significant step towards Premier League survival as two Troy Deeney penalties helped them come from behind to beat Newcastle 2-1 at Vicarage Road
Dwight Gayle gave the visitors the lead when he steered home from close range (23) but the hosts improved after the restart as Kiko Femenia was brought down inside the box by Matt Ritchie, allowing Deeney to level (52)
The Watford captain completed the turnaround with a carbon copy from the spot after Javier Manquillo upended Ismaila Sarr (82), as Nigel Pearson's side moved six points clear of the relegation zone
They remain 17th while Newcastle stay in 13th place in the Premier League table after a second straight defeat
There was a huge sigh of relief from Pearson at the final whistle after his side collected another huge three points after they won on their last outing on Tuesday - clinging on to defeat Norwich by the odd goal - but this has been a season that for so long has been shrouded in uncertainty
Faced with a Newcastle side safely nestled in mid-table, this was a glimmer of light for the Hornets - but they were deservedly behind at the break
The visitors had already threatened when, after 11 minutes, Jonjo Shelvey's corner was inadvertently flicked on by Deeney, forcing Ben Foster to make a smart save at the far post from Miguel Almiron
Watford were looking to win back-to-back league games for the first time since January, and they very nearly broke the deadlock against the run of play when, from Femenia's cross, Danny Welbeck struck the post, with a combination of Martin Dubravka's glove and Jamaal Lascelles' clearance preventing the ball from crossing the line
But Newcastle went ahead midway through the first half as Watford had not learned their lesson from the earlier set-piece
Ritchie's corner was flicked on by Federico Fernandez, allowing Gayle to prod home his third goal in his last five Premier League appearances
Things might have been worse for the Hornets were it not for the intervention of Foster, who saved with his feet to deny the returning Allan Saint-Maximin after a lovely flick into his path from Gayle
But Watford emerged reinvigorated upon the restart and they were awarded a penalty within six minutes of the second period - the first conceded by Newcastle this term
 Femenia did well to evade Fernandez's challenge before his was caught by Ritchie
Dubravka last saved a spot-kick on this ground two seasons ago, but he was unable to keep out Deeney's fierce drive for his first goal since February
Watford's talisman should have doubled his tally after a mistake by Fernandez presented the ball to him, but his shot was saved by Dubravka
This was the hosts' best period of the game as moments later, Welbeck's shot towards goal deflected off Danny Rose, wrong-footing Dubravka, but the ball looped just over
The Hornets were transformed, but it took a clumsy challenge from Manquillo to gift them the chance to complete the turnaround as the Spaniard wrapped his arms around Sarr to give referee Craig Pawson no option but to point to the spot again with eight minutes remaining
Deeney became the first player to score more than one Premier League penalty in the same match since Paul Pogba did so against West Ham last season, once more rifling his attempt down the middle as Watford earned some much-needed breathing space
Watford boss : "It's never easy for players to deal with the sustained disappointment we've had this season
 We've not had a spell where we've been out of trouble and we've still got a lot of work to do, but credit where it's due
 The players found answers today
"It's the second game in a week where we've gone a goal behind but we've been able to win it so we have to reflect on the positive aspects
 It doesn't matter how good a squad you have
 They've still got to deal with the mental pressures, so credit to them
"Newcastle boss : "Decisions are meant to be clear and obvious but the penalties looked remarkably soft to me
 It was just what Watford needed, you may call us naive, but I felt they were very soft
 This is the fourth call like this in a few days
 The first was softer than the second
 To lose a game in this manner is difficult to accept
"I thought our first-half performance was excellent, Saint-Maximin forced a good save from Ben Foster that could've made it 2-0 and they needed a shot in the arm
 I thought the only way they could beat us was through set-pieces - the first penalty gave them a lifeline
"Whether we were naive or they were soft, I'll let others make that judgement
 We're not getting the decisions in my opinion
"There was simply no underplaying the importance of this game, with West Ham pulling clear themselves with a convincing win at Norwich, who Watford had come from behind to beat in their last outing
Nigel Pearson may have told his players the scoreline at Carrow Road during the interval, with his side deservedly trailing - but then came a response full of character, led by Deeney
This was not his greatest game - far from it - but it could possibly prove to be his most important in a Watford shirt
 The Hornets have taken 12 more points in their last 18 games than they achieved in their first 17, which indicates they have a squad that can do far better
Only Mark Noble at Upton Park (75 per cent) and David Unsworth at Goodison Park (62 per cent) have scored a higher portion of their goals at a specific venue via penalties than Deeney has at Vicarage Road (48 per cent - 13/27)
Watford travel to face West Ham at the London Stadium on Friday, live on  (kick-off 8pm)
 Newcastle host Tottenham at 6pm on Wednesday
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