Aston Villa vs Newcastle United
Date: 25/11/2019
K/O: 20:00
Venue: Villa Park
Referee: Lee Mason
TV: Sky Sports Main Event
Monday night’s clash between Aston Villa and Newcastle United may not be the most prestigious meeting between two historically successful sides. However, it still has the potential to produce an interesting narrative as the former and current Villa managers meet in the West Midlands.
Steve Bruce is steadily transitioning Newcastle into a more dynamic outfit than they were under Rafael Benitez, while Dean Smith’s side began the campaign with much-attacking promise.
While points have dried up for the Villans of late, it is worth noting their last three results, all defeats, were at the hands of Manchester City, Liverpool and Wolverhampton Wanderers; three of last season’s top seven.
During that period Smith has had to deal with several injury concerns to key players and forced league leaders Liverpool to beat them by a last-second winner.
Therefore Bruce, who is unlikely to receive much love upon his return to Villa Park, will not be underestimating his old club or his successor in the hot seat.
Nor will Bruce be feeling intense pressure though, it is highly plausible that victory on their travels would see the visitors move comfortably into the top half of the table, possibly above the likes of Manchester United and Arsenal.
Bear in mind most pundits, and Newcastle fans alike, would have had you believe at the beginning of the season that they were destined for a dismal relegation stricken slog.
But the middle of the Premier League pack is a tightly fought battleground, and only three points separate Sheffield United in fifth and Everton in 15th.
Even returning to Tyneside empty-handed wouldn’t leave the Magpies any lower than 16th place, with a healthy four-point gap to the drop zone.
Despite their slump in form, it is incredibly unlikely the host will fall into the relegation places, avoiding a 12-goal swing would see Villa sit 17th, but only on goal difference.
Ending their three-game winless run could see Smith’s men leapfrog West Ham, Everton and Tottenham to move within a point of Monday’s guests, leaving them with a little breathing room from the bottom clubs.
Aston Villa should take solace from the fact that Newcastle will be missing a host of key players, primarily captain Jamaal Lascelles who has been ruled out until the new year after sustaining a knee injury.
While his replacement Florian Lejeune is also a slight doubt, he may start the game even if not fully fit as his fellow centre back Ciaran Clark is also out of action after picking up a knock on international duty.
Good news for Bruce is that Fabian Schar who was thought to be unable to play has returned from injury in time to make an appearance against Villa.
Makeshift left-back Matt Ritchie is also unavailable through injury for Newcastle, and midfielder Sean Longstaff is serving a suspension for his red card against Wolves.
Dean Smith has a selection headache of his own to contend with as Tom Heaton, along with Jack Grealish, Matt Target and Frederich Engles are all carrying knocks, despite this they are expected to pass fitness tests and make the starting line-up.
Predicted Starting XIs
Aston Villa (4-1-3-2): Heaton; Guilbert, Engles, Mings, Targett; Nakamba; Trezeguet, McGinn, Luiz, Grealish; Wesley
Newcastle United (4-5-1): Dubravka; Yedlin, Fernandez, Lejeune, Schar, Willems; Almiron, Shelvey, Hayden, Saint-Maximin; Joelinton
Match Prediction: Aston Villa 1-1 Newcastle United
With Newcastle United missing the majority of their goal-scoring defenders, amongst other key players, they may struggle for goals. Responsibility to find the back of the net will fall upon the forwards and top scorer Jonjo Shelvey, if they are unable to do so, then the outcome looks bleak for the visitors.
Meanwhile, Villa are on a poor run of form, but this fixture presents the perfect opportunity to turn that around and regain the form that had seen them earn back to back victories prior to facing top of the table opposition.
