Newcastle vs Aston Villa - Predicted teams and match preview
A big game for Newcastle United as Matthias Jaissle's Mags owe us a response following Monday night's mess at Coventry.
Our up-and-down start to the season had the potential to kick on earlier this week, when a beatable Coventry stood in our way. However, despite the three-week break, the key men returning from injury and the warning signs at Leeds in our previous away game, another car crash display unfolded.
We had more chances, more shots and more possession, but individual mistakes and a total lack of conviction at both ends totally let us down, with big questions also asked about our lack of midfield balance as Jaissle persists with his 4-2-3-1 formation.
The questions today: will the manager adapt? What changes will he makes? And how will the players respond at St James' Park after to back-to-back 4-1 defeats on the road?
All will be revealed in tonight's 5.30pm kick-off, but we'll have to me much better up against Unai Emery's Aston Villa, who are showing signs of recovery after a poor start to 2025/26.
Predicted line-ups
Predicted Newcastle XI: (4-2-3-1) Hornicek - Miley, Thiaw, Botman, Hall - Nico, Joelinton - Fernandez-Pardo, Willock, Barnes - Wissa
I think we'll see a couple of changes tonight and a few significant shifts in position.
Dan Burn doesn't appear to be ready to start just yet, meaning the same back four could continue, but I'm expecting Joelinton to return in midfield, with Joe Willock as a No.10, Yoane Wissa as a No.9 and Matias Fernandez-Pardo on the wing.
For me, MFP could gain confidence out wide, allow Wissa (or Osula) to play in their natural position and take Jacob Murphy out of the 11 after too many abject displays on the right since Anthony Elanga's injury.
Aston Villa predicted XI: Suzuki - Cash, Lindelof, Mings, Wan-Bissaka - Gomes, Kamara - McGinn, Buendia, Manzambi - Jackson.
Match prediction
Aston Villa's start to the season looks poor from a Premier League perspective, sitting 16th at the time of writing, but they beat Fenerbahce 6-0 on Wednesday night and have won three and drawn one of their last four away games, scoring three goals at Spurs, Coventry and Club Brugge.
We've done well at home, scoring at least two in every game so far, but our defence has been too leaky, both home and away.
I think this will be an open game with plenty of goals and another high-scoring draw at St James' Park.
Prediction: Newcastle 2-2 Aston Villa
Howay the lads!
