As Quique Sanchez Flores' Watford get set face to Newcastle United at Vicarage Road in the third round of the FA Cup on Saturday afternoon, the Hornets will fancy their chances after impressing in their return to the Premier League this season.
We catch up with Newcastle fan and writer Andrew McDonnell to hear his thoughts on the season so far and the game this weekend.
Newcastle have had a tricky season and will need to find some good results to keep their place in the Premier League this season. Do you think this is achievable?
I definitely think that this is achievable, Newcastle have a good squad. It may not seem it from results this season, but there have been glimmers of hope throughout the last five months. Players like Georginio Wijnaldum are world-class players, they just need the rest of the squad to pull their weight and then I am sure the results will come.
What are your thoughts on Steve McClaren? Is he the right man for the job at Newcastle?
Look, you are never going to get anywhere without continuity at a football club. I have learned that first hand, but the fact of the matter is that Steve McClaren hasn't been in charge of the Magpies long and he should be given at least a season or two to make his mark on the side.
Despite Newcastle's struggles, are there any players that have stood out and impressed you this season? And who do you think really needs to up their game in the second-half of the campaign?
Wijnaldum has impressed me massively. I don't tend to sit down and watch the full 90 minutes week in, week out because I am always out and about reporting, but from what I've seen, he is, by far, the standout man this season. Rob Elliott has thoroughly impressed me too, but players like Paul Dummett, Jack Colback and Fabricio Coloccini need to step up their game for Newcastle to regain their Premier League status this season.
What have you made of Watford this season and where do you think they can finish in the league table?
My word, where do I start? I completely wrote Watford off at the beginning of the season without a ball being kicked in anger. Players like Odion Ighalo and Troy Deeney have been superb and have performed better than the so-called 'top players'. I have a feeling they've gone unnoticed around the country because they aren't your household name, but football fans have taken note that they are a force to be reckoned with. Flores was a manager that I used to follow in Spain for a start and I knew that he'd do well when he came to England.
Who do you consider as the biggest Watford threat to Newcastle progressing to the next stage of the competition?
The biggest threat is the partnership up-front with Deeney and Ighalo on form this season. Nobody can seem to stop the pair that's for sure. They've taken some big scalps this season at home and Newcastle will be in for a very tough afternoon on Saturday that is for sure.
This might be a strange thing to say, but would it perhaps be better for Newcastle to exit at this stage? Obviously not ideal for the fans who want to see the team win, but it would allow you guys to concentrate on the battle in the league.
No, not in one single way would it be better for Newcastle to exit the competition at this stage for another season. Winning games breathes confidence into a side, no matter what level it is at, and getting through to the next round of the FA Cup would be a massive achievement given recent results. Fair enough you've got a battle in the league, but taking the players' minds off that and onto the cup won't be easy, but a win would give them the confidence they need to go on a run and get away from the bottom three.
Finally, what is your score prediction for the game?
Watford 2-1 Newcastle United.
