BBC Sport pundit releases Newcastle vs Aston Villa prediction
Newcastle United are back in Premier League action today, facing an Aston Villa side we could leapfrog with a Boxing Day win.
Our recent record against Villa is really good and has offered for some entertaining affairs, promising what should be a cracker of a tie in late December. Sandro Tonali announced himself with an early goal against the Villains in a 5-1 win on the opening day of last season.
Fabian Schar grabbed a brace at their place in a 3-1 victory in January, with Unai Emery’s side hoping for revenge at St. James’ Park - but it will be a tough task according to one BBC pundit.
Sutton backs “ruthless” Newcastle
In his latest prediction piece for BBC Sport, Chris Sutton has been looking ahead to today’s clash with Aston Villa at St James’ Park.
Morgan Rogers once again caught the eye as Villa beat Manchester City to leapfrog them into sixth in the table on December 21, but Sutton believes we will continue our fine run of form and overtake their points tally which we are currently two behind.
“Newcastle seem to be hitting a bit of form - as I predicted, although I don't like to mention it - and Alexander Isak looks unstoppable at the moment. It just shows that people should never write off Magpies manager Eddie Howe.
“Aston Villa were comfortable in their win against Manchester City on Saturday, and I love what Rogers is doing for them this season.
“Villa manager Unai Emery has a nice headache up front, to choose between Ollie Watkins and Jhon Duran, and it means they have always got goals in them.
“It is Newcastle I am going with here, though. They seem to be building real momentum although I guess there is the risk I am reading too much into them being so comfortable against little Ipswich Town at the weekend.
“They were ruthless against little Ipswich at Portman Road, and I think they will be ruthless at home against Villa too.”
Sutton predicts: Newcastle 3-1 Aston Villa
It pretty much echoes what I imagine is the thought of the majority of fanbase with some newfound confidence coming into fixtures after more of a dull, pessimistic mood a few weeks ago.
We have been ruthless to an extent and have certainly not been shy of a goal, but we won’t be afforded as many chances as we were against Leicester and Ipswich and we must be clinical on the afternoon.
Toon in form…and recent history is on our side
Villa have failed to beat us in a staggering 16 consecutive trips to St James’ Park, 15 of those in the Premier League and one in the Championship, dating back to a day in 2005 that lives in the memory for the wrong reasons.
An infamous moment of idiocy between Kieron Dyer and Lee Bowyer saw the pair of fools come to blows on the pitch, with each being shown a red for their efforts in a brawl between teammates.
Steven Taylor was dismissed earlier in the affair for a deliberate handball, though it appeared he had been comically been shot in the chest, meaning we finished with eight men in a 3-0 defeat.
It’s crazy to even think about anything like that happening in the Prem these days, really is a completely different game in that respect. If that’s what it takes for Villa to beat us at ours then I think it’s a good omen for Thursday!
We are bang in form at the minute and our fortunes are certainly more favourable than that day of disrepute in early April 2005. Three wins from three in all competitions and the best Scandinavian forward in the league in unbelievable form in front of goal, I’m the most confident I’ve been coming into a game since West Ham at home.
We had won our last three before then too, including a Carabao Cup game, with Isak scoring three in three - and then lost 2-0 to the struggling Hammers. We must prove Sutton right and be ruthless to continue our form and get into the European spots.
