Aston Villa (A) – Pre-match thoughts, team news, possible XI and prediction

Olly Hawkins

Newcastle’s up and (mainly) down season has continued over the past week.

An awful display in a 3-2 defeat at home to Brentford, ending with boos at St James’ Park, was followed by a display of unity and strength at Spurs on Tuesday, seeing us deliver the bounce-back performance and result Eddie Howe and the players desperately needed.

It was the first of four straight away games, and it should give us confidence heading into our latest challenge: Aston Villa away in the fourth round of the FA Cup on Saturday night.

We saw off Bournemouth on penalties (after a 3-3 draw) in the third round last month, and arrive at Villa Park knowing a win over Unai Emery’s third place side would send us into the last 16, keeping our cup hopes alive for another season after recently exiting the Carabao Cup at the semi-final stage at Man City.

It’ll be a far tougher test than Tottenham posed on Tuesday, but Villa have lost two of their last three home games in the league. Considering we should’ve beaten them in that opening day 0-0 draw and lost 2-0 last month, it would be a sweet time to get revenge and build on that midweek win at Spurs.

Speaking to the media in Friday morning’s pre-match press conference, Howe had this to say ahead of the cup clash.

“The win (at Spurs) has definitely helped the feeling and the mood around the training ground. That’s what winning does. It’s such an amazing thing – it can change the perspective of everyone.

“It was a big win for us but now we’ve got to try and back it up, and we’re searching for that consistency.”

“We would love to have an FA Cup run. I get asked a lot about the cup competitions – I think I was asked the other night about our attitude to it. Our attitude won’t change – we’ll try and win the next game, and that’s Aston Villa away.

“(It’s) a really tough draw – maybe not the draw we wanted – but it’s a competition we want to try and do well in. We enjoyed our run last year, we were disappointed to exit when we did, so the aim is to go as far as we can.”

Team news

Bruno Guimaraes (hamstring) and Lewis Miley (dead leg) look set to miss out. Joelinton is closing in on his comeback from a groin issue, although this game will come too soon.

Tino Livramento is back running on the grass and on course to return next month, while Fabian Schar and Emil Krafth remain absent.

For Villa, the hosts will be without four regular starters, with right-back Matty Cash and midfield trio Youri Tielemans, John McGinn and Boubacar Kamara all ruled out.

Predicted XI

(3-4-3): Ramsdale – Thiaw, Botman, Burn – Murphy, Tonali, Ramsey, Hall – Elanga, Woltemade, Gordon.

OUT: Pope, Trippier, Bruno, Willock, Barnes. 

IN: Ramsdale, Hall, Murphy, Tonali, Woltemade.

Really tough to predict, but we’ve got to strike the balance here of picking a side capable of winning and building on our midweek win at Spurs, while also protecting certain players ahead of next Wednesday’s long trip to Qarabag.

I’m going for a return to a back three (or five), with Murphy the only suitable right wing-back option to protect Trippier, Hall back in down the left, Tonali’s return allowing Willock to rest and Woltemade back in up top. It’s tough to say who will play on the left wing, so it’s a toss up between Gordon and Barnes for me.

Match prediction

I’ve got a feeling we’ll be competitive and give them a real game in a tightly contested cup tie.

I’m backing this one to go to extra time. What happens from there is anyone’s guess, although added time will be far from ideal just a few days before our six-hour flight to Baku!

Prediction: Aston Villa 1-1 Newcastle

Keep the faith. Howay the lads!

About Olly Hawkins

As a Junior Magpie since birth and season ticket holder, I eat, sleep and breathe all things NUFC! Here at the blog, I aim to bring you news, views, match reports and transfer exclusives as and when I get them.

View all posts by Olly Hawkins →

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34 thoughts on “Aston Villa (A) – Pre-match thoughts, team news, possible XI and prediction”

  1. Bruno out until April! So we have to find a way to win without him then or our season is well and truly stuffed.

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  2. Gilly – I think the deeper we get into the season players will be focused solely on staying fit for the WC.

    I think the likes of Gordon & Tonali have already been playing that way all season!!.

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  3. I agree. Both Tonali and Gordon have been nowhere near their best for several months now. If they don’t pick up their ideas though our season is done. And then they will likely be off in the summer as we won’t get European football.

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  4. I see Wilson hasn’t missed a game for W/Ham since he went there,he was always injured,what does that say about our medical staff?

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  5. It’s gutting for Bruno but I hope he gets to have a good WC coz he’s given us everything thing season to be fair.

    It’s the rest that need to step up now. I’ve been impressed with Willock & Ramsey in the last few games to be fair so hopefully they will see this as a chance – they will get more game time with Joelinton & Bruno out.

    Need one of the forwards to step up and decide to be the main man too – I’m gonna score the goals!!

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  6. Tonight we’ll see if Newcastle is “Howe’s team” or “Bruno’s team.” We’ll see if beating dead teams like Spurs gives them any psychological confidence, or if that’s just self-delusion nonsense. I’d also remind Howe that he has academy players in the squad. If he puts one of them in the starting lineup, it won’t cause an apocalypse.

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  7. So, we have a change of shape. Waltemade and Osula both start with Tonali and Ramsey in the middle, Barnes and Murphy as wingers. Defence is Hall, Burn, Thiaw and Trippier. Ramsdale in goal. The Korean lad is on the bench.

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  8. Icedog:
    I see Wilson hasn’t missed a game for W/Ham since he went there,he was always injured,what does that say about our medical staff?

    Agree, we do get an awful lot of injuries compared to other clubs.

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  15. Where was the f’ing linesman? He was quick to give our offside. 🤬🤬🤬 fuucking criminals man

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  16. All this chat about ‘VAR is ruining the game’ should watch this game.

    VAR could defo be improved but even in its current state it is so much better than without.

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  17. Cannot believe they didn’t get a second red and that the ref and lino didn’t spot a clear offside goal.
    Fuming .

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  18. Absolutely f’king fuming. Villa should be down to 9. Digne was clearly a red. The f’ing linesman was right there. They are not doing their job. Officials have been absolutely shocking. Criminal really.

    Having said that, we are toothless. Created nothing since the illegal goal. Now Villa are down to ten we absolutely have to find a way to take advantage. I’m pretty sure we won’t.

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  20. Villa sitting back with 10 men is going to be tough with our lack of creativity and finishing ability.

    I would be looking at shooting from distance with fast players running in for the rebound.

    So keep Murphy on for his shooting, get Tonali and Barnes shooting. I would maybe get Gordon and Elanga on to try and get the rebounds in place of Wolte (sprays the ball around ok when no one is near him but pretty useless under the pressure) and Osula (nice energy but not much else)

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