My goodness, how long ago does that 5-1 win against Villa on the opening weekend of the Premier League season feel?
We demolished a highly-favoured Aston Villa, new signing Sandro Tonali scored on his league debut, and for a few glorious moments it felt as though we might win the lot. But history has been much more grounded in reality than the heady moments of that August day.
Villa have bounced back and look to be having a season like we did last time out. And the Mags have stuttered after a dazzling Champions League campaign, besieged by injuries and looking unlikely to strengthen in January.
Although League form has not been good reading for us recently, but two wins from two in the FA Cup sets us up for only our third appearance in the Fifth Round in the last 18 years. Can we look to bring the clinical side of the performance against Fulham to Villa Park? Will we manage to keep our tenacity up for the rest of the campaign? The second-half of the season will be full of questions like these and will be exacerbated if we do not bolster the squad by the end of Wednesday night.
Boss Eddie Howe said the Fulham result gave the team “a lot of confidence” as the Toon look to turn around their poor league form.
“Defensively we looked resilient and solid. Hopefully it gives us a lot of confidence. I think you seen an improved performance towards the end of the game. Probably reflecting the scoreline and the fact we were winning – you saw a bit of freedom return.”
“We need to make sure we’re prepared for Villa,” Howe said. “It will be a very difficult game. They’re in very good form so we need to get our game plan right.
“It seems a long time ago [since the 5-1 win on opening day]. I think we were at our best from an attacking sense that day. I think that showed what we’re capable of.”
Newcastle have not scored in the last six games away to Villa and the away side has not won in a Newcastle v Villa game since 2013.
Team news
Howe is ‘hoping’ to have Miguel Almiron back in his matchday squad after missing the Fulham game through illness. The game comes too soon for Harvey Barnes and Callum Wilson who are “close” to return according to Howe. But Jamaal Lascelles remains out with a calf injury, joining Joe Willock, Elliot Anderson, Joelinton and Nick Pope on the sidelines.
Kieran Trippier (groin) also picked up a knock against Fulham but is expected to be okay for the trip to the Midlands.
Newcastle-linked Jacob Ramsey is not expected to be fit to play after a recent hamstring injury. Jhon Duran is also out for the Villains, who will also be missing Pau Torres and Lucas Digne.
Predicted XI – Dubravka – Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn – Longstaff, Bruno, Miley – Murphy, Isak, Gordon.
It is a toss-up between Jacob Murphy and Almiron for the spot on the right wing. Howe started Murphy against Fulham and he had the ball in the back of the net but was offside. Having had his minutes managed – and given Miggy’s recent illness – Murphy is seemingly the more likely to start.
Burn was named man of the match in the FA Cup and will start over Livramento, you would think. We’ve kept clean sheets in our last two away games and you suspect Howe will stick with the same trusted back four as a result. Miley will celebrate his new contract with a goal contribution – you heard it here first.
Prediction: Aston Villa 2 – 1 Newcastle
This will be tough. Villa are a very good team under Emery and both sides have evolved from the opening day thrashing – Newcastle mainly through necessity. A dogged defensive performance against Fulham will give us confidence to go to Villa Park, but a poor away record will be on the minds of Geordies.
It is really hard to call, but despite there being many points to play for this season, I am unsure that the Toon will return from the Midlands with any at all. With that being said, this side has a wonderful record of getting results when up against it.
Please prove me wrong Eddie.
Into them!
crazy to think Villa are 14 points better off than us,so need result in this game
icedog(Quote)
I said before start of season that Villa would have a great season , they looked very good pre season. I was shocked when we put 5 past them but knew that was a blip for them.
Needs teams like Villa, us and the likes of Brighton and West ham to keep nipping at the heels of the so called top 4 or 5 clubs.
Need to win tonight, try and get our season back on track.
kimtoon(Quote)
Listened in to a toon/ villa fan discussion and it was every striking how similar the fan view for villa this season was to our own experience last season including the same worries.
I really loved the comments of a father to son that what he’s watching this season is not normal so not to get too used to it🤣
Onto the game and nufc will have to be pretty flawless for a positive result.
I was surprised at how bad the toon have been at villa park recently and it’s several years since either of these two won away against each other . Time to buck that trend
HTL
GoWest!Mag(Quote)
Also in the discussion I referenced, the villa fan highlighted their centre back pairing without Torres as a worry. To take advantage, isak is key and the problem is by staying compact defensively ala Fulham the toon struggle to transition effectively to attack
GoWest!Mag(Quote)
Thanks for the article Josh, what’s happened to Olly? Is he still around?
This will be a tough one tonight. I don’t expect much and if we can grab a draw that would be a decent result I think! We will need to be better than we were at Fulham. 🤞🤞
Gilly Toon(Quote)
I think 0-0 tonight. Maybe we nick it on a set piece.
I think Howe has been working on making our defence solid again – particularly on the road & Villa may struggle to break us down 🤞🏼
Sharpy17(Quote)
Still here mate! Been posting plenty of news/opinion pieces, but Josh is helping out with previews and match reports to ease my workload.
Olly Hawkins(Quote)
My comments are not showing
kimtoon(Quote)
Well I said we might nick it on a set piece – it’s been 2 in the first half & my prediction our defence would be tight has proven correct too.
I was actually doing to also say – if we can come through the game without injuries that would be a result too but didn’t want to jinx it 🤦🏼♂️.
Can’t believe Isak is crocked as well now 😡. We have 2 of the most prolific CFs in the league – their goals per games ratio is outstanding but their injury records are terrible!!.
We needed a midfield in Jan, now it looks like we need a CF equally as badly – absolute nightmare!!.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Good to know you’re still around Olly! 👍👍
Great first half. I’d never have put money on Schar scoring twice! 😳😳
But gutted to lose Isak … will be a difficult second half. Hope we hold onto this.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Almost no time to get a striker this window. It would be on loan too I guess. Unless we try for Guirassy from Germany who has a £15mil release clause I think. 🤷🏻♂️🤷🏻♂️
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Or a loan from Saudi?
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Neves & Mitrovic like Gilly
Sharpy17(Quote)
Blx. Needed to stay strong for longer.
Now they’ve got a sniff it’s going get rough unless the toon can get some control back. Problem is villa have had all possession 2nd half and changing mentality from contain will be difficult
GoWest!Mag(Quote)
No doubt the Isak injury affected us & our offensive play after he went off … BUT that was an outstanding performance. Brilliant defensive display and excellent decision by Howe to stick Tino on Bailey.
We have some favourable fixtures coming up … BUT that Isak injury leaves us in a very vulnerable position depending on how bad it is and/or whether we can get cover in before the window closes.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Well, that was a nervy end! Longstaff man, that should’ve been 4-1. Great win and a double over Villa. Chuffed to bits with that, but we definitely need someone in before Thursday. Neves and Mitro would do it Sharpy mate.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
I thought Murphy was excellent down the right & Gordon is just a joy to watch down the left.
But I have to say, I enjoyed Miggy on the left when he can on. He looked so much more effective and the pass he played for Murphy’s assist/goal – that pass never happens when he’s playing on the right.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Trying to think of who else Gilly – Ekitike maybe? Hojberg from Spurs if they get Gallagher from Chelsea?
It’s going to be interesting to see what they can do.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Great and unexpected result, first to take a win away from there this season too.
Gutted for Isak, man we have no luck with injuries.
kimtoon(Quote)