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Matty Hewitt

Roy Hodgson's relegation record that spells danger for Newcastle United ahead of Watford appointment

Roy Hodgson is line to take over at Newcastle's relegation rivals Watford after they parted company with Claudio Ranieri in the aftermath of their defeat to Norwich City.

The Hornets were well beaten by the Canaries at Vicarage Road, which brought the end to Ranieri's spell in Hertfordshire.

Newcastle leapfrogged the Hornets as a result of their win at Elland Road and pressure is mounting on Watford.

The impending arrival of Hodgson goes against their usual managerial appointment protocol, having appointed foreign managers in the past.

Needless to say, their previous tactic hasn't worked with Watford struggling to cement their place in the Premier League.

Now, they're set to turn to former Crystal Palace boss Hodgson, until the end of the season.

His reported appointment may not strike fear into the Hornet's relegation rivals, but those around them should not underestimate the 74-year-old.

Hodgson has been out of a job since leaving Selhurst Park last summer, after establishing the Eagles as a Premier League outfit.

Watford have not won in their last nine games and have failed to keep a clean sheet in a remarkable 30 Premier League fixtures.

However, in Hodgson, they have a manager who's resolute and knows what it takes to keep a team in the division.

Back in December 2007, Hodgson was appointed at struggling Fulham with the club languishing in 18th position. The Cottagers were two points from safety and had only won two Premier League games all season - a similar, albeit not identical situation to one that Watford are in.

A run of twelve points from the final five games of the season, including a 3–2 win over Manchester City after being 2–0 down with twenty minutes remaining, ensured Premier League survival for the Cottagers,' a 1-0 win over Portsmouth confirmed that on final day of the 07/08 season.

Hodgson then took Fulham to the Europa League final two season's later, before departing for Liverpool.

His time at Anfield was short-lived and he was sacked. Not deterred by the setback, Hodgson took over at West Brom a month later.

The Baggies had lost thirteen of their previous eighteen games and slipped and slip to seventeenth in the table, sitting just outside the relegation zone on goal difference.

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The former Reds boss guided the Baggies to safety with five wins and five draws from their twelve remaining games, including an important 2–1 win at The Hawthorns against Liverpool.

The media dubbed that result as "Roy's Revenge" with the Baggies going on to finish 11th – their highest league finish for three decades.

Hodgson took over at England and had a disappointing tenure as Three Lions boss, before linking up with Crystal Palace in September 2017.

The Eagles had lost their first four league games of the season without scoring a single goal.

It was a slow start for Hodgson at his boyhood club, losing his first three games in charge, but a turnaround in form saw him lead Palace to an 11th placed finish.

No team had previously survived relegation from the top flight after losing their first seven games - which was a Premier League record.

Palace then finished the 2018-19 season on 49 points - their joint best ever tally in a Premier League campaign.

Despite making Palace an established Premier League side, the Eagles decided to go down a different route at the beginning of this campaign and there had been speculation suggesting Hodgson would retire.

When asked about retirement, he said: "I really am stepping away from football for a while, but who knows what the future will be?

"It is a never-say-never moment. I've seen so many people retire with all the fanfare blazing, only to surface again somewhere in a fairly short period of time. I'd prefer not to do that."

Newcastle won't play the Hornets again this season, after picking up a disappointing two points from two games against the Hornets, games which they should have won.

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