Players to play for Leeds and Newcastle
Look back at some of the best players to play for both Leeds United and Newcastle United from down the year.
Newcastle vs Aston Villa: Line-ups
Newcastle
Aston Villa
Goals For Both Sides
#1
Newcastle have now accumulated eight points from their last 12 available and this much-needed run of form has helped them climb out of the relegation zone for the first time since the beginning of October. Just one point separates them from 18th-placed Norwich City but they do have a game in hand. Eddie Howe still faces a challenging task as they bid to avoid Championship football next season, but the addition of five new signings in January and an upturn in form has come at the right time as they prepare for their final 14 games of the season.
#2
With fixtures against eight of the current top 10 still to come this campaign, Sunday’s home encounter with Aston Villa is perhaps one from which Newcastle will fancy their chances of claiming another three points. Victory against the West Midlands outfit would see them secure three consecutive league victories for the first time since November 2018.
#3
The Magpies are unbeaten in their last 12 Premier League home games against Aston Villa, a run which dates back to April 2005; however, each of the last three top-flight meetings at St James’ Park have ended as 1-1 draws.Steven Gerrard’s men have slipped out of the top half and down to 11th place following just their third league draw of the campaign, and they now sit nine points behind the top seven.
#4
While Aston Villa have had no problems in finding the net this season – with only Liverpool failing to score in fewer Premier League games than the Villans (three) – Gerrard will have concerns about his team’s defensive frailties, having kept only two clean sheets in their last 10 top-flight matches, and conceding at least twice in four of their last five games.
#5
Before Gerrard’s appointment, however, Villa did keep out Newcastle earlier this season when they claimed a 2-0 win on home soil back in August last year, thanks to strikes from Danny Ings and Anwar El Ghazi. Villa, who are unbeaten in their last seven Premier League games against the Magpies, will be looking to do the double over Sunday’s opponents for just the second time in the Premier League, previously doing so in 2004-05 under former boss David O’Leary.
DPP Verdict
Aston Villa secured a routine win in the reverse fixture against Newcastle earlier this season, but they are set to face a different proposition on Sunday and could be in for a challenging afternoon in the North-East. Confidence is beginning to grow within the Magpies camp and although they will be desperate to claim another three points here, an entertaining score draw could be on the cards.
