Steve McClaren is hoping Newcastle players react positively to West Ham defeat

Watford have struggled to find the form that saw them score 91 goals in the Championship last season, with them only managing to score three goals in their return to the top division.

Behrami was shown a straight red card in last weekend’s win over Swansea while Britos is serving the last match of a three-game ban for his own sending off in the Capital One Cup.

“You get back on the horse and the players are up for a reaction on Saturday”.

“We sensed that a little bit in pre-season – a couple of times we conceded a couple of goals, and the reaction wasn’t favourable”. We have talked about the reaction this week.

At this stage of the season, the Premier League table still tells plenty of lies.

“In the final third we know we have to create more because two goals in five games is not a lot”.

“I just felt after the second goal it was disappointing”.

Wijnaldum was encouraged by Newcastle’s first half performance in the 2-0 defeat to West Ham in his team’s last outing despite a shaky start.

“The second half was not good overall. After that we didn’t do enough to fix it”.

“The first eight fixtures were a bit of a nightmare for us”, McClaren said referring also to upcoming clashes with champions Chelsea and leaders Manchester City.

Watford goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes is also confident and believes that all the work and preparation that was put in over the summer months is now starting to pay off – the Hornets currently have one of the best defensive records in the Premier League.

“Newcastle have not started very well, but I know their players and we have analysed their matches from the past year”, said the Watford boss.

‘You can quickly show how good you are’.

Wijnaldum feels that while Newcastle are still looking for their first win, there was a dip in performance compared to previous games.

“We are in a process of having new players and a new team”.

Quique Sanchez Flores has rapidly moulded a well-organised, hard-working side, and is urging his players to do all they can to silence the partisan St James’ Park support tomorrow.