Watford have endured a miserable start to the 2019/20 season, with the Premier League side still winless after eight games.
Their poor form resulted in Javi Gracia’s sacking with the Hornets reappointing Quique Sanchez Flores as his replacement.
Their current fortunes are of stark contrast to last season, with Gracia’s men securing an 11th place finish and reaching the FA Cup final.
A run of three draws and five defeats in their opening eight games this time out makes for grim reading.
It doesn’t get any easier for Watford as next up they face a trip to Tottenham – which is LIVE on talkSPORT 2.
But how certain can we be they won’t turn things around and avoid relegation to the Championship?
talkSPORT.com has delved through the history books and looked at how sides who had the same number of points at this stage of the season fared come the end of those respective campaigns.
Huddersfield – 2018/2019 – W0, D3, L5 = 3 points
Final position: 20th – RELEGATED
A disaster from start to finish, and one which Huddersfield are still feeling the effects of now. Three wins in 38 games tells you all you need to know about how the Terriers fared last season. It is one supporters will not want to look back on anytime soon.
Crystal Palace – 2017/2018 – W1, D0, L7 = 3 points
Final position: 11th
The Eagles lost their first seven Premier League games – yes, you heard it right.
Palace chairman Steve Parish dismissed Frank de Boer after just four games with the Premier League side winless and failing to score a goal in the process.
Roy Hodgson proved to be Palace’s saviour, with the south London side eventually securing an impressive 11th place finish.
Sunderland – 2015/2016 – W0, D3, L5 = 3 points
Final position: 17th
The Black Cats looked well up against it until Sam Allardyce’s arrival at the Stadium of Light in October. Jermain Defoe’s 15 league goals played a huge role in Sunderland’s survival, as they maintained their Premier League status at the expense of arch-rivals Newcastle – by virtue of a two-point difference.
Newcastle – 2015/2016 – W0, D3, L5 = 3 points
Final position: 18th – RELEGATED
It was a season to forget for the Magpies, who were not only relegated but were pipped to survival by the aforementioned Sunderland. Steve McClaren was sacked as manager in March, with Rafa Benitez unable to save the club.
Crystal Palace – 2013/2014 – W1, D0, L7 = 3 points
Final position: 11th
It was quite the turnaround from Palace, who picked up just one win in their opening 10 games. Soon after Ian Holloway lost his job, with Tony Pulis tasked with ensuring the Eagles survived in the top flight. A run of five wins towards the latter stages of the season cemented their top-half finish.
Reading – 2012/2013 – W0, D3, L5 = 3 points
Final position: 19th – RELEGATED
The Royals managed just six wins in 38 games, with supporters having to wait until November before they even registered a win on the board. Their 0-0 stalemate with QPR – which saw both sides relegated to the second tier – was a fitting end to their campaign – lacklustre and lifeless.
QPR – 2012/2013 – W0, D3, L5 = 3 points
Final position: 20th – RELEGATED
Money doesn’t guarantee success. QPR learnt this the hard way in the 2012/13 campaign. Their record-breaking winless start to a Premier League season – which saw them take 17 games before beating Fulham 2-1 – left them with a mountain to climb before Christmas.
There were some brief glimpses of hope, a shock 1-0 win at Chelsea and a 2-1 win at Southampton – but that as good at it got as the west London side were deservedly relegated.
Charlton – 2006/2007 – W1, D0, L7 = 3 points
Final position: 19th – RELEGATED
The Addicks had to wait until November 4 to record their first win of the season, and that woeful start proved to be the beginning of the end as they were relegated from the Premier League – and we haven’t seen the Addicks again since in the top flight.
Everton – 2005/2006 – W1, D0, L7 = 3 points
Final position: 11th
Everton were in a very precarious situation after the opening eight games, but a run of just one defeat in seven gave supporters hope they had turned the corner.
A seven-game unbeaten run spanning late December to the middle of February was enough to ease the Toffees relegation concerns once and for all.
Blackburn – 1996/1997 – W0, D3, L5 = 3 points
Final position: 13th
The 1995 Premier League winners had a nightmare start to the 1996/1997 campaign, collecting just four points from their opening 11 matches. Tony Parkes’ arrival in October gave Rovers the boost they needed to steer clear of any potential relegation battle.
Everton – 1994/1995 – W0, D3, L5 = 3 points
Final position: 15th
Everton recovered from a woeful start which saw them lose eight of their opening 12 matches, before eventually sealing a mid-table finish – remaining unbeaten in their last seven games.
Southampton – 1993/1994 – W1, D0, L7 = 3 points
Final position: 18th
The Saints avoided the drop by a single point, with much of that down to club legend Matt Le Tissier’s 25 league goals.
Swindon – 1993/1994 – W0, D3, L5 = 3 points
Final position: 22nd – RELEGATED
The Robins’ 73-year wait to reach the top level of English football proved to be too big a step for the club at that time. They won just five games all season and conceded a whopping 100 goals.
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