Newcastle Beat QPR 2 Years Ago To Stay Up - But How Do They Rate Vs The Current Team?

9. THEN: Mike Williamson - NOW: Paul Dummett

Mike Williamson has actually been in worse form this season than he was back in 2012-13, if that can be believed. The centre-back got himself sent off - "deliberately" according to head coach John Carver - at Leicester City but in truth that was almost a blessing in disguise for Newcastle because he had been abysmal all game. Deputising in his place is Paul Dummett, yet the reality is that the Newcastle academy product may have been first choice ahead of Williamson anyway even if the latter wasn't suspended.

Dummett is certainly not the finished product at centre-back and he is still growing into the position, but he is far-more composed on the ball than Williamson and he offers a calming reassurance to the rest of the defence. Williamson was in woeful form in 2012-13, as he has been again this season. Dummett leapfrogged Williamson into the Magpies side earlier in the campaign on merit, and he probably would have done again even if the centre-back had not been sent off at the King Power Stadium. Verdict: A point for Dummett, 0-1. The Williamson of 2012-13 (and of 2014-15) would struggle to get into most Championship defences, nevermind a Premier League one.