On Saturday we go up against a Watford side who have had a fine start to the season. No strangers to victory but yet no strangers to defeat this season, the Hornets currently occupy 7th place in the Premier League table.
As far as our recent record against Watford is concerned, it unfortunately makes for difficult reading as we have lost the last five matches with two of those coming at home including Watford's biggest win at St. James' Park which occurred in November last year.
Until it eventually happens, the question on everybody's lips will be when that first win will arrive. Now that a quarter of the season has now been played, the objective for the season is as clear as it has ever been: Safety. Once we get that first win, we will push from there, it is that simple.
Facts and Figures
All Competitions
Newcastle wins: 14
Draws: 14
Watford wins: 13
League
Newcastle wins: 12
Draws: 10
Watford wins: 10
League at St. James’ Park
Newcastle wins: 9
Watford wins: 4
Draws: 3
Previous ten (all competitions)
Watford wins: 5 (15 goals)
Newcastle wins: 3 (12 goals)
Draws: 2
Biggest win: Newcastle United 5 - 0 Watford (27/02/1932)
Biggest defeat: Newcastle United 0 – 3 Watford (25/11/2017)
Memory Lane
Newcastle United 2 - 1 Watford – 16/12/2006 (Premier League)
Shay Given:
Paul Huntington:
Steven Taylor: This was the third match in a run that lasted going nine home games unbeaten. This was around the time that young Steven Taylor was beginning to show his prominence in the first team and it was great to see a local lad playing well and looking like he was a sign of things to come for the club’s future in defence.
Peter Ramage:
Celestine Babayaro:
Kieron Dyer:
Nicky Butt:
Emre:
James Milner: One of my favourite players whenever he wore the Newcastle shirt and I still have all respect for the man. I am pleased that he has gone far in his career, playing for Aston Villa when they were a big club, Man City and now of course, Liverpool. Since leaving Newcastle, Milner has adapted to playing pretty much anywhere on the park except for the goalkeeper position but he cannot be much worse than Loris Karius. In this match against Watford, he provided Martins with an excellent assist for the first goal; a perfect left-footed cross from the right wing.
Antoine Sibierski: Veteran at the time, Antoine Sibierski had a good campaign in his one and only season at the club. Despite not being prolific in the league, it is fair to say that he consistently banged them in regularly in other competitions especially the UEFA Cup campaign which ended at the Round of 16 stage. Sibierski loved Tyneside so much that he described himself as a Toon fan after leaving. The French international really wanted to stay for a further two years but the contract extension never came after Glenn Roeder's departure and Sam Allardyce's arrival.
Obafemi Martins: His two goals proved to be the difference between the two teams. Heading in the first at the start of the second half. Fired his second in the top left corner five minutes from time with his left foot, assisted by substitute Damien Duff who deceived Watford’s Jay DeMerit to create the chance for the Nigerian international to score the winner.