Two of the Premier League's bottom three in the form guide meet at Vicarage Road on Saturday as Watford host Newcastle United.
The Hornets are on a four-game losing streak, while Newcastle are still in the bottom three despite a pair of encouraging recent results.
Watford
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Watford have not lost five successive Premier League games since October 1999, but they will do that if the Magpies win in two days' time.
A month ago after matchday 17, Quique Flores's side were seventh in the table and just a point off the top four after a 3-0 success over Liverpool made it four straight wins.
They followed that up with a 2-2 draw at Chelsea on Boxing Day, but since then it has been downhill in the league with no points from a possible 12.
The first two defeats were crushing late ones to Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City where they gave everything they got at home, but since then they have not scored at either Southampton or Swansea City to sit 12th and just eight points above the bottom three.
January blues are not a new thing for the Hornets - their recent slide means that they have only ever won one of their 11 Premier League matches in the first month of the year (W1 D1 L9).
Although Odion Ighalo has gone three games without a league goal, the Nigerian will be confident of finding his shooting boots back at Vicarage Road as he has scored six goals in his last six home Premier League appearances.
At the other end of the pitch, Watford have signed Costel Pantilimon from Sunderland to challenge Heurelho Gomes for the No.1 shirt.
Recent Premier League form: WDLLLL
Recent form (all competitions): DLLWLL
Newcastle
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Four points out of a possible six in their last two games against top-six duo Manchester United and West Ham United means that the feel-good factor is back with Newcastle, although they are still in the bottom three as other sides around them continue to pick up points.
On Saturday they beat West Ham 2-1 and although he did not get on the scoresheet, new signing Jonjo Shelvey impressed and played a key part in both early goals.
Steve McClaren hailed the performance of the England midfielder and the former Swansea City man has escaped FA action after seemingly shoving Enner Valencia off the ball.
The impressive last two performances both came at home and it is on the road where the Magpies have struggled in recent times, scoring just six goals in their last 16 Premier League away matches.
Georginio Wijnaldum scored the second on Saturday and he continues to shine at St James', but the Dutchman has no goals and two assists in 10 Premier League away appearances this season, compared to nine goals and one assist in 12 appearances on Tyneside.
If Wijnaldum or another Magpie can grab a goal at Vicarage Road, Newcastle should feel confident of winning the game as Watford have lost all five competitive games this season when they have let in the opener at home.
Recent Premier League form: DLLLDW
Recent form (all competitions): LLLLDW
Team News
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Newcastle have the longest injury list in the league and it got added to last weekend when Paul Dummett was taken off with a hamstring problem.
The left-back was a doubt for the trip to Watford, but it seems that he has overcome the problem and is fit to start in the Premier League for a 50th time.
Shelvey is sure to continue in midfield after his impressive debut and Aleksandar Mitrovic should again lead the line with McClaren still on the hunt for a new striker.
As for Watford, Flores has no new injury worries and could start the same team that lined up against Swansea.
Watford possible starting lineup:
Gomes; Nyom, Britos, Cathcart, Ake; Capoue, Watson; Behrami, Deeney, Jurado; Ighalo
Newcastle possible starting lineup:
Elliott; Janmaat, Coloccini, Mbemba, Dummett; Shelvey, Colback; Sissoko, Perez, Wijnaldum; Mitrovic
Head To Head
Watford have already beaten Newcastle twice this season - once in the Premier League at St James' Park and once in the FA Cup at Vicarage Road earlier this month.
The reverse fixture in the North-East was settled by two first-half Ighalo goals, with Newcastle unable to recover in the last hour of the match.
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We say: Watford 2-2 Newcastle
Watford will be glad to be back at home, but Newcastle should come into this full of confidence and will be desperate to get out of the bottom three. Goals could be on the cards and it is hard to pick a winner here.
Pascal Lemesre
