Newcastle United v Watford team news & stats
Steve McClaren: Newcastle boss looking dejected after defeat at West Ham
Newcastle will hope to extend their good record against Watford as they look to climb off the foot of the Premier League at St James’ Park.
Team news
Aleksandar Mitrovic serves the second of his three-game suspension for Newcastle following his red card against Arsenal before the international break.
Steve McClaren may be tempted to make changes after defeat to West Ham on Monday left the Magpies bottom of the Premier League, with Siem de Jong and Ayoze Perez likely to be considered after impressing as substitutes at Upton Park.
Watford, meanwhile, are without the suspended duo Valon Behrami and Miguel Britos but have Adlene Guedioura, Obbi Oulare and Victor Ibarbo in contention to make their debuts.
Opta stats
- Newcastle United have lost just one of their last 16 league meetings with Watford (W9 D6 L1).
- Newcastle have put exactly two goals past Watford in four out of the last five meetings in all competitions.
- In the four PL meetings between these sides, only once has either side scored more than one goal (2-1 win for the Magpies in December 2006).
- Two of Etienne Capoue’s three previous meetings in all competitions with Newcastle ended in 4-0 wins for the Frenchman’s team (all with Tottenham, L1)
- Watford have kept a clean sheet in three of their last four Premier League games.
- Newcastle have now failed to score in four successive Premier League games – their worst run since April 2014 (also four).
- Only once in the top flight have the Magpies failed to score in more than four consecutive games – six in December 1988.
- Just three of Watford’s 12 Premier League victories have come away from Vicarage Road (25%).
- Newcastle have had fewer touches in the opposition box than any other Premier League side after the opening five games (61).
- Watford striker Odion Ighalo has scored 18 goals in 23 league appearances in 2015 – more than any other player in the top four tiers this year.