Match Preview: Watford v Newcastle United (From The Northern Echo)

Match Preview: Watford v Newcastle United

2:27pm Friday 26th February 2010

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WATFORD
Loach
Doyley Taylor Demerit Mariappa
Eustace Lansbury Cowie Harley
Graham Helguson

Carroll Best
Gutierrez Nolan Smith Guthrie
Van Aanholt Williamson Coloccini Simpson
Harper
NEWCASTLE

Newcastle subs (from): Krul (gk), R Taylor, Kadar, Enrique, Hall, Butt, Pancrate, Ranger.
Watford subs (from): Lee (gk), Travner, Hoskins, McGinn, Henderson, Jenkins, Hodson.

NEWCASTLE: Jose Enrique and Nicky Butt have both returned to training this week, but neither is expected to start this afternoon. Enrique's recovery from a hamstring injury has been perfectly timed, as replacement left-back Patrick Van Aanholt will play the final game of his loan at Vicarage Road, before returning to Chelsea at the start of next week. With Peter Lovenkrands absent with a hamstring injury sustained against Preston last weekend, Leon Best is in line for only his third Newcastle start.
Suspensions: None
Injuries: S Taylor (knee), Barton (foot), Routledge (hamstring), Lovenkrands (hamstring), Ameobi (groin), Vuckic (ankle)
Last five league games: WWDLW
Leading league scorer: Nolan 11
Next game: vs Barnsley (H) 06/03/10

WATFORD: The Hornets are without loanee Tom Cleverley after the Manchester United midfielder was sent off in last weekend's 2-2 draw with Scunthorpe. Cleverley starts a three-match ban this afternoon, while winger Will Buckley is also unavailable because of a thigh strain. The 20-year-old, who joined Watford from Rochdale in January, missed this week's reserves game against Peterborough.
Suspensions: Cleverley
Injuries: Buckley (thigh)
Last five league games: DWLWL
Leading league scorer: Cleverley 10
Key Player: Jay Demerit - The American international will hope to face England in this summer's World Cup finals.

Last season: No corresponding game
League head to head: Newcastle 11, Watford 6, Draws 10
Referee: Tony Bates (Burslem) G24 Y67 R1 Ave: 2.83
Last Newcastle game: vs Huddersfield (H) 26/08/09 W4-3 Y5 R0
Odds: H5/2; A10/11; D11/5

It's a fact: Newcastle have won just one of their last 13 matches at Vicarage Road.
Comment by Paul Fraser: Newcastle haven't been great on their travels of late, but this is a chance to turns things around.
Prediction: 1-2

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