After another damaging defeat midweek, Steve McClaren's Newcastle United side are involved in their first crunch game of the season against West Bromwich Albion on Saturday.
The United boss though will be the less happy of the two, as he is facing an injury crisis ahead of the game.
Both Chancel Mbemba and Paul Dummett are out with injuries sustained in midweek, and to make matters worse Jamaal Lascelles is suspended after being sent off in the same game.
Newcastle will go into the game sitting eight points behind this weekend's opponents.
Background
The record between these two sides is pretty even and doesn't really give an indication of who might win this one, and neither does the current form either.
Newcastle's last five Premier League games have ended in one win, one draw and three losses, the most notable of which was the thrilling 3-3 draw at home to Manchester United.
West Brom funnily enough boast the same record as their opponents this weekend, their most notable a home win over Stoke City.
The last seven meetings between these two sides haven't produced anything special with West Brom winning two and Newcastle winning three. The away side though don't have a very good record at St James' Park, failing to win in their last three attempts and picking up only a point.
The better news for Newcastle is that Tony Pulis' side haven't won on the road since late October, something the Baggies will be looking to improve on.
Team News
Newcastle United: Newcastle boss McClaren has been forced to draft in three of his under-21 players due to an injury crisis. These include; Callum Williams, Liam Gibson and Dan Barlaser. It looks very likely that Gibson may be thrown into the deep at left-back, this is to cover the injury problems in that position.
Steven Taylor will be back at centre-back, despite the Englishman only playing two games in 13 months. Jack Colback is still out with a hamstring problem, while Deadline Day recruit Seydou Doumbia will be in the squad.
West Brom: The Baggies also have injury problems of their own to worry about, as Jonny Evans limped off in the midweek draw against Swansea. He looks set to be out for the next two weeks with a hamstring problem. He will join Chris Brunt, James Morrison and Callum McManaman who are all sidelined due to injury also.
Saido Berahino will be in the squad against Newcastle, the club who had a bid rejected for the forward. Pulis has said though he is unlikely to start due to fitness issues.
Players to watch
Jonjo Shelvey: The new Newcastle midfielder has had a couple of pretty ordinary games recently, but this is the game he can get back into the swing of things and show his quality. Close games like these always come down to a key tackle or a killer pass, and I think this is the game where Shelvey can show his quality once again helping Newcastle to a much needed victory.
Salomon Rondon: Looking at the West Brom team for the weekend, Rondon is of course where the threat is going to come from. He is the key man here, and with a depleted and in-experienced Newcastle defence likely to start, he can use the power and quality he posses to cause havoc. West Brom aren't out of a relegation battle yet, and they need their main man to do the business up front.