What a mess! - Newcastle 0-1 Aston Villa

Back-to-back defeats for Matthias Jaissle's Newcastle, who produced another chaotic display sorely lacking in quality against Aston Villa.

Our issues at both ends persisted, as did the big gaps in our midfield. An unwanted defensive record was set at St James' Park - that's now the first time we've ever gone 16 home games without a clean sheet - and we managed just one shot on target all night, summing up our issues in each third of the pitch.

Yoane Wissa had a stinker, our two centre-backs were weak, yet rash, and any form of identity to our play was absent. That cohesion and quality was missing in the final third, as we failed to capitalise against a Villa side who were clearly tiring in a scrappy second half that ended with boos.

Jaissle made one change as Joelinton replaced Jacob Murphy. This saw Wissa play in a lone striker role, with Matias Fernandez-Pardo on the right and Joe Willock as a No.10, just ahead of big Joe and Nico Gonzalez. 

Newcastle XI: Hornicek - Miley, Thiaw, Botman, Hall - Gonzalez, Joelinton (c) - Fernandez-Pardo, Willock, Barnes - Wissa.

Substitutes: Pope, Schär, Burn, Dedić, Bamba, Steur, Osula, Toure, Murphy.

Messy Mags punished by Manzambi

The first half quickly turned into a real mess. We created so little, our midfield lacked balance (once again), despite the decision to bring Joelinton back in, and we looked wide open defensively. 

Sven Botman was fortunate to stay on the pitch after going over the ball in a tackle on Nicholas Jackson, Joelinton took 18 minutes to pick up his customary booking, and the wheels fell off after former Toon target Johan Manzambi made it 0-1 in the 36th minute. 

And what a poor goal it was to concede. Barnes and Gonzalez didn't do enough to stop the cross, and our marking in the box was pitiful, with Manzambi somehow finding acres of space as he ghosted in between Lewis Miley, Malick Thiaw and Botman.

After that, we were lucky to be just 1-0 down as Emi Buendia struck the post after a Claret shirt found too much room in the box once again. Whether it was our messy pressing, the space we afforded Villa in the middle of the pitch or the non-existent marking in the box, it was really poor all over and brought half-time boos from a frustrated St James' Park.

No quality, no cohesion 

After more of the same to start the second half, Jaissle had seen enough on 57 minutes. Bazoumana Toure and Will Osula replaced Fernandez-Pardo and Joe Willock, seeing Toure play on the right and Wissa move back to a No.10 role.

Botman had one effort saved well by Suzuki - our only shot on target - and Wissa headed over, yet chances were few and far between as we had plenty of possession but little penetration up against a tiring Villa side who were starting to sit deeper.

Lukas Hornicek then did well to deny Ross Barkley's low strike before chances were wasted in black and white, as Osula failed to capitalise on a loose ball in behind and Wissa shanked well wide after good work from Joelinton.

Villa had lost all control of the game, but we continued to look chaotic and lacking in the quality needed to make the most of our possession, much like on Monday night. Toure looked like a headless chicken and we were crying out for someone with real footballing IQ, making it all the more baffling that Sean Steur didn't come on again.

Wissa's wastefulness then continued, as he ignored an obvious through ball to Barnes and took the shot on himself, only to blaze over the bar and into the Gallowgate as moans and groans mounted inside St James' Park.

Mbaye then dragged a big chance wide for the visitors before Dan Burn came on to join our attack in six minutes of added time. A desperate approach to throw the kitchen sink at Villa, but it didn't work as Unai Emery's men held on for a 1-0 win.

Worrying signs and serious questions, as today's team not only looked lost, lacking in organisation, quality or character, but also poorly drilled from a coaching perspective.

Next up, Crystal Palace away next Sunday, where a team low on confidence or ideas simply must fight back.

Keep the faith. HWTL.