Watford Hub
Watford's match against Newcastle is more daunting than expected. The context for this match has changed dramatically in a few weeks. Newcastle were miserable until recently, but their past two games have seen a spirited 3-3 draw with Manchester United and an excellent 2-1 win over West Ham.
What happened?
Watford could field a weakened team and beat Newcastle earlier this month in the FA Cup third round. But Newcastle's recent form has made this fixture look more challenging.
Why it matters for Watford
Watford had beaten Liverpool 3-0 and were within touching distance of fourth place in December. However, they have turned in their worst performances of the season following four straight defeats in the league.
| Category | Stat |
|---|---|
| League standing | 16th in Championship, 57 pts, 14W-15D-17L from 46 games |
| Recent form | LLLLL |
| Goals this season | 53 scored, 65 conceded (-12 goal difference) |
What comes next?
Watford's next fixture offers a good opportunity to reverse their slump, but it will not be easy. Etienne Capoue faces a big challenge from Jonjo Shelvey in midfield. Some of Watford's misfiring key men could do with being dropped for a game, including top scorer Odion Ighalo.
As of 28 Jun 2026, Watford are 38 points behind leaders Coventry and have lost their last 5 games, including a 0-4 defeat to Coventry on 2026-05-02. Their next fixture is against Boreham Wood on 2026-07-11.
