15:00 BST, Saturday 5th May, Vicarage Road (Watford, England)
Five losses and five failures to score from their last seven games does not make good reading for Watford. Javi Gracia has a lengthy injury list to work around, however, the Hornets have completely dropped off the pace since reaching a point of relative safety in the league. The Hornets have remained respectably strong at home throughout all of this, losing only once in their seven matches at the Vicarage (W3, D3) this year and also have a good record against the Magpies who they have beaten in each of their last three meetings.
Newcastle have also seen a drop in standards, losing both of their previous games after they broke the 40-point barrier at home to Arsenal last month. Like his Watford counterpart, Rafael Benitez must now take his player’s minds away from thoughts of sand castles as he looks to build a platform which could see his side finish in the top half of the table.
Last Time Out
Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 Watford (Premier League)
Watford suffered a double Greek tragedy in a game of little quality. The Hornets actually made a purposeful start to the game and had some half chances to score during the opening moments. A mistake by Orestis Karnezis in the 16th minute gifted a chance which fell to Delle Ali and the good work was all undone.
Further tragedy struck just after the interval when José Holebas did the indefensible act of turning his back on a cross to leave a lack of defence which doubled Spurs lead. Both Richarlison and Andre Gray returned to the team after poor form saw them slip out of the starting eleven in recent weeks. Looking short of confidence and composure, they could not prove Gracia’s decision to reinstate them correct as Watford ambled towards an 18th league loss of the season.
Newcastle United 0-1 West Bromwich Albion (Premier League)
Newcastle could not overcome a determined Baggies side who showed more passion and will to win than their hosts. The Magpies started slowly and failed to pick up speed, something which became necessary after Matt Phillips gave the visitors a 29th-minute lead. The closest Newcastle came was with a Kenedy shot that caught the woodwork at the end of the first half but this was an exception rather than a trend in the match.
With West Brom turning the game into a niggly affair, Newcastle needed a player to step up and provide control in the game. In this respect, Jonjo Shelvey and Ayoze Pérez both hugely disappointed, especially given their recent good form.
While Dwight Gayle was unlucky to see an early shot well saved, neither he nor Islam Slimani who replaced him for the latter stages could break the Baggies resistance.
Watford Lineup
While there are no new injury worries for Watford, they will still be without Molla Wagué (hamstring) Younes Kaboul (fitness) Gerard Deulofeu (foot) Tom Cleverley (hamstring) Stefano Okaka (thigh) and Nathaniel Chalobah (knee). Sebastian Prödl is also expected to be unavailable due to an illness he has yet to recover from.
Newcastle United Lineup
Mikel Merino (knock) Jesús Gámez (ankle) and Christian Atsu (knock) remain out of action for the Magpies who will also be without Islam Slimani after the striker was given a retrospective 3-match ban for violent conduct this week.
Key Battle: Richarlison (Watford) vs Kenedy (Newcastle United)
While this match has a danger of becoming an uninspired dead-rubber of a game due to both club’s relative safety in the league, it could also be fired into life by some Brazilian magic. Richarlison began his first game in 5 last weekend after being rested following a drastic dip in form for the Hornets. A lively display gave plenty of reasons for optimism, however, a glaring miss in the second half from 6-yards out underlined the players lack of confidence which a goal this weekend could help to restore.
Kenedy is a player bubbling away nicely. Having not represented Chelsea in the league this season, the left-sided winger has started every Premier League fixture for Newcastle since making his loan-move North. Despite only scoring in 1 of these 11 matches and adding 2 assists during this time, Kenedy is the player for Newcastle who looks most likely to make things happen and it’s surely only a matter of time before he returns more tangible results for the Magpies now that he’s up to full match fitness.
Talking Points
Small hope
Will Hughes has returned from injury and returned to the form which won him much praise throughout November. The hamstring injury picked up against Manchester United put a 3-month hole in his season, however, the £8m midfielder again looks one of Watford’s best players.
As the only player to shine against Tottenham, Hughes found himself marked by two players during the second half as Mauricio Pochettino looked to shut down the threat he was causing from the central area.
This form could well place him as an outside contender to be involved in the England squad, a fine achievement for a player who was in the Championship with Derby County this time last year. With less than 1,000 minutes of playing time this year and a lack of stamina to see him through a full 90 minutes, he remains very much an outside bet, but he is also a player to keep a close eye on in the near future.
Slim pickings
Newcastle’s biggest problem through the first half of the season was a distinct lack of firepower, something the January loan signing of Slimani was supposed to cure. After taking much longer to recover from a hamstring injury he carried through his medical, the striker has only made one start and played129 minutes since his arrival.
Without a goal and now suspended from the final three fixtures because of a retrospective ban for lashing out at Craig Dawson through frustration, Slimani has made clear his hopes of extending his stay on Tyneside.
For a forward who lacks any raw pace and will turn 30 before next season gets under-way, the chances of Newcastle buying him now seem remote. But with three years still on his contract with the Foxes, there remains a possibility he could be picked up on loan again next year if he’s done enough behind the scenes to impress Benitez.
Prediction: Watford 0-1 Newcastle United
The slump in form for both teams coupled with their inability to score goals does not bode well in terms of excitement. That Newcastle have been out of touch with their form for less time could see them pick up the challenge quicker as could the fact that Watford are still missing several of their key players from this game.
(Photo Credit: Reuters/Dylan Martinez)
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