Tue 16th Mar - DW Stadium
By James Dall Last updated: 7th September 2008
Given: Toon in Turmoil
Newcastle United goalkeeper Shay Given has admitted the club are currently in 'turmoil'.
Former manager Kevin Keegan's shock resignation this week has seen owner Mike Ashley come in for strong criticism.
Given has played for the Magpies for 11 years and admits the St James' Park outfit must quickly get back on track.
He told Sky Sports News: "Yes [I was surprised]. He's a great manager and a great bloke. He will definitely be missed at the club by the players and the fans.
"It was a bit of a shock. It is not for me to say what should happen at the hierarchy at the football club.
"We all want the club to move forward and I am hopeful we will do that.
"We would like to get the club back on track and get going in the right direction. But it is in turmoil at the minute."
Meanwhile, James Milner, who left Newcastle in the summer for Aston Villa, is sympathetic of Keegan's exit on Tyneside.
He said in the Sunday Mirror: "What is going on now at Newcastle showed what was going on behind the scenes at the club.
"Obviously I am delighted to be a Villa player now. I have massive sympathy for KK and the fans.
"He was a fantastic manager to work with, even though it was a short space of time. I can't say a bad word about him."
| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Saturday 20th March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 12:45 | Aston Villa vs Wolverhampton |
| Wednesday 24th March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Aston Villa vs Sunderland |
| Saturday 27th March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Chelsea vs Aston Villa |
| Saturday 3rd April | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Bolton vs Aston Villa |
| Saturday 10th April | |
| The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON | |
| 17:00 | Aston Villa vs Chelsea |
| Wednesday 14th April | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Aston Villa vs Everton |
| Sunday 18th April | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 16:00 | Portsmouth vs Aston Villa |
| Wednesday 21st April | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Hull vs Aston Villa |
| Sunday 25th April | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 12:00 | Aston Villa vs Birmingham |
| Saturday 1st May | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Man City vs Aston Villa |
| Sunday 9th May | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Aston Villa vs Blackburn |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Tuesday 16th March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Wigan 1 - 2 Aston Villa | |
| Saturday 13th March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Stoke 0 - 0 Aston Villa | |
| Sunday 7th March | |
| The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON | |
| Reading 2 - 4 Aston Villa | |
| Sunday 28th February | |
| Carling Cup | |
| Aston Villa 1 - 2 Man Utd | |
| Wednesday 24th February | |
| The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON | |
| Aston Villa 3 - 1 Crystal Palace | |
| Sunday 21st February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Aston Villa 5 - 2 Burnley | |
| Sunday 14th February | |
| The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON | |
| Crystal Palace 2 - 2 Aston Villa | |
| Wednesday 10th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Aston Villa 1 - 1 Man Utd | |
| Saturday 6th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Tottenham 0 - 0 Aston Villa | |
| Saturday 30th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Fulham 0 - 2 Aston Villa | |
| Wednesday 27th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Aston Villa 0 - 0 Arsenal | |
| Saturday 23rd January | |
| The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON | |
| Aston Villa 3 - 2 Brighton | |
| Wednesday 20th January | |
| Carling Cup | |
| Aston Villa 6 - 4 Blackburn | |
| Sunday 17th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Aston Villa 0 - 0 West Ham | |
| Thursday 14th January | |
| Carling Cup | |
| Blackburn 0 - 1 Aston Villa | |
| Saturday 2nd January | |
| The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON | |
| Aston Villa 3 - 1 Blackburn | |
| Tuesday 29th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Aston Villa 0 - 1 Liverpool | |
| Sunday 27th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Arsenal 3 - 0 Aston Villa | |
| Saturday 19th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Aston Villa 1 - 0 Stoke | |
| Tuesday 15th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Sunderland 0 - 2 Aston Villa | |
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Liverpool | 30 | 51 |
| 6 | Manchester City | 28 | 50 |
| 7 | Aston Villa | 28 | 49 |
| 8 | Birmingham City | 29 | 44 |
| 9 | Everton | 29 | 42 |
With a rock-solid defence and an in-form James Milner, Paul Merson sees Aston Villa easing past Wolves.
Have you given up playing 11-a-side football in the last two years? Then fill out Sky Sports News' poll now.
The best of Tuesday's football action in pictures, including Champions and Premier League action.
Aston Villa's Stephen Warnock has hailed defensive partner James Collins - stating he is as brave as a lion.
With a rock-solid defence and an in-form James Milner, Paul Merson sees Aston Villa easing past Wolves.
Galatasaray claim they have turned down £12million bids for star players Arda Turan and Kader Keita.
Aston Villa took another huge step towards a top-four finish after a 2-1 victory over Wigan.
Sunderland's late woes, Rooney's full house, Belgian stars and clean teams... Martin Tyler's here!