Michael Owen believes that Newcastle United are capable of taking away at least a point when they face Watford at the weekend.
The retired forward pointed out that in a normal situation, sharing the spoils with Southampton last Saturday would have been perfectly acceptable – if were not for the fact that United have failed to win the first ten matches of the season for the second time in their history.
However, despite the Hornets having regained their form recently, Owen believes that they will have to resign themselves to a draw at St James’ Park.
“Under normal circumstances, a good point for Newcastle at Southampton at the weekend, but another blank in front of goal and United have failed to win any of their opening 10 matches of a league season for just the second time in their history – last doing so 120 years ago, back in the 1898-99 top-flight campaign,” he said in his BetVictor predictions.
“I feel they can at least take a point against a Hornets side who have bounced back in recent games after their own poor run. But I feel [Watford] will have to make do with a draw at St James’s Park.”
OPINION
Newcastle’s winless run seems to be dragging on and on at this rate, and if Owen’s prediction is anything to go by, that only looks set to continue. They are more than capable of earning a draw at St James’ Park this weekend, but they will have to work hard against a Watford side who have suddenly found their form again after their own poor run. They have the attacking players who can really hurt United, so Rafa Benitez will have to ensure that his side defend extremely well. Nevertheless, Newcastle will be glad if they took a point against this Watford team. Obviously, a win would have been more ideal for them – but with a weak attack, this looks unlikely to happen. Like Owen said, earning a point against the Saints would have been acceptable if they were not on a poor run. However, a victory does not look to be in sight any time soon if they do not get their scoring boots on.
