Newcastle v Aston Villa preview: Magpies look for third win in a row
Saturday 19 December 2015 17:18, UK
Newcastle will be looking to build on wins over Liverpool and Tottenham when they host Aston Villa on Saturday Night Football.
The Magpies' consecutive Premier League victories have seen them move away from the relegation zone and up to 15th in the table.
Villa, however, are bottom of the table with six points, eight points from safety after 12 defeats and just one victory from 16 games.
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Only three teams have been bottom of the Premier League at Christmas and survived, but Garde says Villa would build again if they were relegated.
Team news
Cheick Tiote could return for Newcastle to make his first appearance for almost a month.
However, the game is likely to come too soon for Mike Williamson and Jamaal Lascelles (both hamstring) while Tim Krul (knee), Gabriel Obertan (hamstring), Massadio Haidara (knee) and Steven Taylor (hamstring) remain sidelined.
Villa skipper Micah Richards is set to miss out with a knee injury that has kept him out of the last two league matches.
There are no new injury worries, with Jordan Amavi out for the season with a knee injury he suffered with France Under-21s last month.
Opta stats
Newcastle are unbeaten in their last eight Premier League matches against Aston Villa (W5 D3) and Villa have not won any of their last nine top-flight visits to St James' Park (D3 L6).
Since beating Aston Villa 1-0 last February, Newcastle have won only three of their 14 Premier league home matches (D4 L7).
Aston Villa are without a win in their last seven Premier League away games, losing six.
All seven of Georginio Wijnaldum's Premier League goals this season have come at home - only Jamie Vardy (eight) has scored more home goals this season (Aguero also has seven home goals).
Idrissa Gueye has made more passes (693), tackles (41) and interceptions (46) than any other Aston Villa player in the league this season.
Paul Merson's prediction
I thought Villa were decent in the second half against Arsenal, but the game was over so early and they had nothing to lose by going forward.
But I would have to say, if Newcastle win this, Villa should start preparing for next season in the Championship. It's a cup final for them. This is the big one for them.
If they lose, it's goodnight. And I'm going with goodnight. Newcastle have their tails up and St James' Park will be getting right behind the players on Saturday night.
PAUL PREDICTS: 2-0 (8/1 with Sky Bet)
Betting
Newcastle are even-money with Sky Bet to inflict another body-blow on Villa at St James' Park with the draw trading at 12/5.
Remi Garde's poor start as the Villa boss makes him a 6/1 shot to be the next Premier League manager to leave his post with the Villans now 1/8 favourites to be relegated.
Four of the last six meetings between the sides have seen the Magpies win by exactly one goal - an 11/4 shot this time. The hosts are also 7/4 to keep a clean sheet and 5/2 to win to nil.
