please log in to view this image NEWCASTLE UTD v WATFORD please log in to view this image St James' Park Saturday 31st August 2019 Kick Off 1500 BST please log in to view this image Having suffered back-to-back defeats against Arsenal and Norwich City, Newcastle supporters would have been fearful of three consecutive setbacks ahead of their trip to North London last weekend. However, while the Magpies did not necessarily produce an entertaining showing, they got three points on the board against the odds. Nevertheless, Newcastle must build on that result. While there was disappointment after the penalty-shootout defeat to Leicester City in the EFL Cup on Wednesday, positives will be taken from holding a near full-strength Foxes to a draw in normal time. That said, the meeting with Watford represents the first time this season that Newcastle find themselves favourites to emerge victorious, and Bruce will be aware that he is obliged to instruct his players to deliver a more ambitious and forward-thinking performance. Javi Gracia is someone who usually demands such an approach from his Watford squad, although their pointless return from their opening three games means that the Spaniard may be content with a point come 5pm. While the Hornets recorded a convincing victory over Coventry City in the EFL Cup, it came off the back of Gracia making widespread changes to his team, which included first starts for Ismaila Sarr and Danny Welbeck. Gracia must now decide how to integrate the duo into his Premier League XI, especially Sarr given the alleged £30m transfer fee which has been paid to Rennes. The inclusion of the Senegal international may be the shot of adrenaline which Watford need after a poor run of results, but Gracia will no doubt be concerned that seven goals have been conceded at the back in 270 minutes of Premier League football. Missing players Newcastle: Miguel Almiron, Fabian Schar, Christian Atsu, Jamaal Lascelles, Allan Saint-Maximin, Dwight Gayle, DeAndre Yedlin, Florian Lejeune. Missing players Watford: Troy Deeney. The referee for Watford's trip to Newcastle United this weekend has been named as Graham Scott. please log in to view this image The official oversaw four Hornets' fixtures last season, including the 5-0 defeat away at Liverpool, the 2-1 loss away at Spurs, the 2-0 FA Cup third round win at Woking and the 2-0 defeat away at Leicester. In the game against the Foxes, Scott issued a straight red card for Etienne Capoue in the 90th minute for a dangerous challenge on Kelechi Iheanacho. The official is no stranger to brandishing the red card and in recent years has sent off two other Watford players. Assisting Mr Scott will be Neil Davies and Adrian Holmes, while Michael Salisbury will be the fourth official. Richard West will act as VAR official. WHEREVER YOU ARE IN THE WORLD-ENJOY THE GAME
I hope for a Watford win, the only time I want you to draw or lose is when we meet. I really am grateful to have so many Watford friends
Mark Lawrenson has us down to lose this game,that means we should not going by his appalling history in predicting our results.....
If Gracia picks Sarr and Janmaat on the right and Holebas and Pereyra on the left we should create some chances, providing we can finish them of course
Not sure if it is must win for Garcia but if we lose then we could well have played 5 games and have 0 points. If Gracia doesn't make any changes and we lose he is a mug and deserves to go IMHO. Got to get 3 points on the board to keep Pozzo's trigger finger at bay. COYH!!!!!!!!!!
With Arsenal and Man City after the break we could do with points ! Doesn't sound like there will be many changes from last weekend but surely Janmaat will play and maybe Sarr. ? We are playing in Green tomorrow as the new away kit would clash with Newcastle!/ black and white shirts .
Our injuries arent that bad Almiron Schar Atsu Lacelles are all ok Not ritchie or max really 1st team wise the only ones
Difficult choice of attire for today. Gone for the green shirt. Currently travelling through North / East Yorkshire. Left home at 05:10...
Yes it is the green kit and that has brought some comments elsewhere about why. The comment I liked most was where a poster suggested that by the time he had climbed 18 flights of stairs to the away end, it didn't matter what they were clad in as you can only see the top of the clouds.
Don't really like the look of this team . Capoue illness , Holebas and GD dropped . Pereyra,Janmaat and Kabasele in . Hope to be proved wrong !
Mrs Andy asked a good question I couldn't answer. I said I thought we lacked leadership without Deeney (i.e. I don't see anyone else). She asked "What about Cathcart? Couldn't he step up?" That silenced me. I don't know. Anybody got any thoughts on that? 'Cause I worry when I look at today's line-up.