Newcastle United host Watford on Saturday still in search of their first Premier League victory of the season.

The Magpies come into gameweek six bottom of the table after taking just two points from their opening five matches, with many people regarding their match against Watford as a must-win game for Newcastle.

Head-to-head

Newcastle will be hoping to continue their very good record against Watford.

The Magpies have not lost at St. James' Park in the league to the Hornets since August 1981, winning eight of the 11 meetings since, and are also unbeaten in their last seven matches in all competitions against Watford.

McClaren still in search of first win

It has been a tough start to life as Newcastle head coach for Steve McClaren, with the Magpies bottom of the table having taken just two points from their opening five matches.

Newcastle opened their campaign with a 2-2 draw against Southampton, but three defeats from their next four games followed, including Monday night's 2-0 defeat at West Ham United.

The arrival of Steven McClaren during the summer and big-money signings such as Georginio Wijnaldum, Aleksandar Mitrovic and Florian Thauvin had provided a major confidence boost, however McClaren is in danger of enduring a worryingly tough start as Newcastle head coach.

One of the biggest problems for Newcastle this season is that they have not been prolific enough in front of goal.

They have only scored two goals in five matches, which is the lowest of any team in the top four divisions of English football, and they have failed to score in their last four league games. Only once before have they had a longer top-flight run without a goal- six games in 1988.

Newcastle supporters have not had much to cheer about, with Newcastle winning just three of their 24 matches in the league in 2015, losing 15, but a win against Watford would give Newcastle a much needed lift.

The opposition

It has been a positive start for Watford, after winning the Championship last season, with them recording one win, three draws and one loss so far this campaign. Their only defeat was against high-flyers Manchester City.

The Hornets come into the game high on confidence after recording their first win since returning to the top-flight against Swansea City last weekend. However, they have not won back-to-back matches in the top flight since April 1987.

Newcastle may be in period of change, but Watford are in a transition period themselves. Not only have the Hornets had to adapt to Premier League football for the first time since 2009, they have a new head coach in Quique Sanchez Flores and they have brought 16 players to Vicarage Road this summer.

Watford have struggled to find the form that saw them score 91 goals in the Championship last season, with them only managing to score three goals in their return to the top division. Having said that, the Hornets are not just going to sit back at St. James' Park, they will cause Newcastle's defence problems.

However, Watford have remained solid at the back, keeping three clean sheets in their last four Premier League games. In fact, only Manchester City, Manchester United and Arsenal have conceded fewer goals.

One to watch: Odion Ighalo

One of Watford's stand-out players has been Odion Ighalo. The striker has scored 18 goals in 23 league appearances in 2015, more than any other player in the top four divisions this year, including two goals already this season.

He was particularly impressive in Watford's 1-0 victory over Swansea and the Nigerian scored the winning goal.

Team News

Striker Aleksandar Mitrovic serves the second of a three-match suspension following his red card in the 1-0 defeat against Arsenal, therefore Ayoze Perez and Papiss Cisse will battle for a place in Newcastle's forward line.

Cheick Tiote, Steven Taylor and Mike Willamson will all miss the match through injury, while long-term absentees Sylvain Marveaux, Paul Dummett and Emmanuel Riviere are also ruled out.

Watford are without Valon Behrami and Miguel Britos through suspension but summer signings Adelene Guedioura, Obbi Oulare and Victor Ibarbo could all make their debuts after their transfer deadline day moves.

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About the author
Adam Bailey
Everton editor, who also covers cycling and athletics.