Aston Villa FC
Newcastle United
Newcastle United
Aston Villa aim to make up for lost time against struggling Newcastle
Aston Villa to win 2-1
As most of the Premier League clubs take part in the 4th round of the FA Cup this weekend, Villa and Newcastle make the most out of having been knocked out in the last round by playing one of their games in hand.
This is one of three matches that Villa have in hand over most of the league’s other sides, games that have built up after the club had to isolate for a number of weeks due to an outbreak of Covid-19.
Villa didn’t have a happy return to the pitch in midweek after losing 2-0 to Manchester City. The first goal was given in controversial circumstances, and manager Dean Smith will miss this game due to his angry reaction.
Newcastle’s form appears to be spiralling out of control week-by-week, and with three defeats on the bounce, Steve Bruce’s men are in dire need of a boost.
Plenty is at stake for both sides.
Form Guide (all comps): WDLLL
Reasons to be cheerful:
Will be desperate to seek revenge for controversial defeat against City
Beat Newcastle in their home fixture last season
Reasons to be fearful:
John McGinn will miss this match through suspension
Villa’s form has been poor lately
Villa, understandably, will be a little concerned at how having three matches postponed will affect their season.
Although claiming a maximum nine points from those fixtures could move them as high as 4th, having points on the board means a lot more to teams than having games in hand. With clubs dropping points at both the top and bottom of the table, Villa cannot rely on having those games to catch up to those above them.
John McGinn, a key player in Villa’s midfield, will miss this fixture having amassed five yellow cards this season, alongside his manager Dean Smith.
Fortunately, there have been positives for Villa lately, even though they have lost their last three matches. They remained competitive in all of those defeats and are likely to have too much for Newcastle.
Star Man – Jack Grealish
Mr Aston Villa will be determined to get his club back to winning ways and has the ability to put Newcastle to the sword here.
Form Guide (all comps): DLLLL
Reasons to be cheerful:
Have a good record against Villa, losing just one of last 14
Saint-Maximin could finally return from illness
Reasons to be fearful:
Could lose first four fixtures of a calendar year for the first time
Have gone seven league games without victory
There aren’t too many positives for Newcastle fans to hold onto right now.
Perhaps the only one is that they are still seven points clear of the bottom three, despite their woeful form lately.
To go seven games without a win, losing five of those, is a poor return for a club whose fans have ambitions of being far higher up the table. Steve Bruce is the betting favourite to be the next manager sacked from his job.
Having said that, Aston Villa are not in the best of form themselves, and if there was a good time to put in a good performance, it would be here.
This game could finally see the return of Allan Saint-Maximin from illness, a player who could transform their attack.
Star Man – Callum Wilson
Only has two goals from his last nine appearances, but is still Newcastle’s standout attacker.
Could be an even contest
Both sides to have chances on goal
Villa slight favourites
If Villa were to win here, it could move them up as high as 8th in the table, overtaking Chelsea in the process.
They’ll have to put in a real shift here, of course. Despite Newcastle’s poor form, you’d expect them to react to all the negative press that is coming their way right now.
Aston Villa to win 2-1
