Aston Villa fans comments on Newcastle United and NUFC fans ahead of Boxing Day clash | OneFootball

Aston Villa fans last saw their team win at St James’ Park back in 2005, the infamous Dyer and Boywer red cards match.

Quite incredible that they went through the entire Mike Ashley NUFC era unable to win a single match on Tyneside.

Since Eddie Howe and the new/current Newcastle United came in, it has been three home wins in this fixture and ten goals scored, only one conceded.

This feels a massive game potentially for both teams.

If Aston Villa fans see their team avoid defeat, it ensure they stay above Newcastle, a five points gap if it is an away win.

A win for Newcastle would take United above Villa by a point, guaranteed at least seventh in the table after this weekend, possibly as high as fifth.

Aston Villa fans commenting via their Villa Talk message board:

‘The worst away ground in the Prem for us, even under Steve Bruce we never won up there and could only get draws. Bloody pain in the a.se team are Newcastle.

Remember during COVID we scored in the 85th minute which looked like we’d finally win there but then they scored in the 94th minute to take a 1-1 draw, so even without the raucous crowds there we just seem to be cursed at St James’s and incapable of winning there.

We haven’t won there since 2005 which is bloody ridiculous given how rubbish Newcastle have been in that time except the last couple of years since they’ve been owned by the Saudi state. The last 2 visits there have ended 4-0 and 5-1, so if we do lose please don’t get heavily beaten.

They have some quality players in Gordon, Guimaeres, Tonali, Joelinton, Hall, Livramento, Schar, Barnes and especially Isak, but then we have plenty of quality ourselves to get something from this game.’

‘Wouldn’t it be nice for it to be topped off with a long overdue win at the Barcode Bowl?!

It will be an incredibly tough game (arguably tougher than the match we triumphed in today against Man City) and one from which I’d take a point quite happily. Annoyingly, they are looking much better recently than they did at the start of the season and as we know they have a very strong first XI. It’s perhaps an understatement to say that our visits to Whalesong World don’t usually go well for us, but we’re more than capable of coming away with all three if we put in a performance like we did today.

‘Surely we’ve got to get a result up there sometime before 2100?! Pretty sure our last two wins there have been when they’ve had players sent off aswell so genuinely no idea when we last won at SJP when they kept 11 on the pitch.

I’ll call it now, we won’t lose this. It won’t be pretty to watch but we’ll defend well with a more cautious mentality and score a couple on the break, 2-2.

They’re tough to play with their style but Brighton and West Ham have won there in the last two months without conceding so it is possible if we get things right like we did today.

Isak is going to be a massive pain to deal with so we need a decent plan to counter him, think Mings starts this in a back 5.’

‘I think Ollie comes back in for Brighton. If you play 5atb you have to take out a midfielder so that’s a far tough call for Unai. Perhaps it might be too soon for Onana to start twice in under a week but we’ll probably need his presence against Joelinthon.’

‘Given we have won 3 of our last 4 PL games, I agree and think a draw would be a good result. Not sure that we will actively play for the draw, but I can see Watkins starting with that in mind (pulling defenders out of position, running the channels, etc.). He can play 60mins, and if we are behind, Captain Chaos can come on.’

‘My least favourite fixture of any season! Can’t stand Toon and we never seem to win at St. James Park. I’d take a draw but would absolutely love a win.’

‘On paper it’s hard to see how we would win this. It’s away, we have a pretty poor record against this team, they are in decent form, and they are exactly the kind of team that does well against us. Watching the Ipswich game last night, it was striking how quick and powerful their forwards are and how ruthless they were with any indecision in defence. I’d start Mings over Torres, (though no doubt it would be an emotional occasion for Mings given what happened last time), and hope that Unai can pull some unexpected tactical delights out of the bag.’

‘I’d forgotten the relevance of this fixture for Mings. I would still consider starting him.’

‘They have been scoring for fun the last couple of games. But certainly not unbeatable at home.’

‘Absolute horrible fixture in the middle of a tough festive period. Newcastle demolished Ipswich with apparent ease so it’s going to be really tough against the backdrop of a really loud and ferocious crowd. However, our performance against City was probably our best performance of the season so far and gives me optimism here.

I can see the argument for keeping an unchanged team but there are some individual battles here that may suit others better. Isak is the obvious problem and Mings is someone I’d be looking to bring in. The midfield needs to stay the same as will match up well against Bruno, Joelinton and Tonali. I can also see McGinn getting some joy out of Hall and Duran getting some joy out of Burn. Personally, I think Cash plays as he did very well against Grealish and will need to be at it against a lively Gordon.

They will be big, strong, physical and will play with some pace but we certainly can match all of that with our eleven if we’re up for it.’

‘This is going to be an interesting battle in the middle of the park.

I’d like to see the same three start for us again but that might be too soon for Onana and we don’t want him out again with an injury. I think Newcastle are strong in the middle too. Bruno, Tonali, Wilock and Jolinton back after a one game ban.

Two in form striker too Duran and Isak so should be a good game.

As others have said we have a terrible record up there, so long overdue a win.

I think we might sneak it 3-2.’

‘I dread this fixture now, they always stuff us at their gaff.

Hopefully, Unai can plan something to stop them running riot.

If someone offered me a draw I would snatch their arm off.’

‘Newcastle’s strength is they have a number of players with pace who like to run in behind so hoping Emery has a plan to combat that and limit the space.

If we get anything from the match will be pleased.’

‘Was worrying how easily they did us at VP as they were in terrible form yet were 3-0 up within 50 minutes from quick breakaways. Isak went off injured at 0-0 as well.

Good news at least is our defence hasn’t been placed quite as high up the pitch this season so they won’t expose us from that.’

‘Im going into this expecting nothing but a bit of a beating, and not letting it spoil my Boxing Day. Anything we get here would be a massive bonus. It’s like a curse is on us at that place.’

‘Going for a 1-0 away win purely on the balance of probabilities insofar as we’ll surely have to win there again before I die?’

‘They’re a bit like our MON team in that they’re very direct and struggle against low blocks, but a decent side and at home very difficult to beat.

We’re a better footballing team and if we get at them we can win by a few, if we’re not on it, as in competing for every ball, we could very well get beat by a distance.’

‘Beating Newcastle away would be our best win all season outside of Bayern. Would be a statement.’

‘They can be inconsistent, and they had an extra midweek game last week, which they went full strength on, when we got a break. So hoping that takes a little bit of energy out of them.

We looked rejuvenated once we got a full weeks break.’

‘We’ll only lose it IF we allow them to play their natural game.

Teams who stop teams like Newcastle from Playing their natural game, get purchase on the game.

We have to silence the crowd, nullify their belief, create doubt in themselves and then impose ourselves.

We can beat anyone, if we go about it correctly.’

‘Isn’t Nick Pope injured for this? Dubravka has a tendency to let in soft goals if you test him enough so I’d be starting Duran for this as we know he’s going to shoot on sight at regular intervals.’

‘Gordon v Cash won’t be pretty. Too early to try Bailey, I’d rather he recovered a bit more. He’s clearly screwed his leg playing through with that injection.

we can’t have Konsa out right as that means Carlos as RCB, which won’t end well.

11 goals in their last three games, Newcastle will be pumped for this one.

id say a win v these guys in their back yard may even beat City at home as a result.’

‘Wouldn’t change a thing from the team that played on Saturday. But still, can’t help but feel we’ll get smashed here. It’s a cursed ground for us.’

‘4th game in 12 days for Newcastle. Will it catch up on them. Will they rotate.

Glad its a 3pm kick off, Christmas Day hangover,.Atmosphere wont be intense as a night game would be.

Seems like we’re very close to having a fully fit team! We have much better bench than Newcastle that is for sure.’

‘They match up against us much better than City did, Rogers won’t be able to run over Tonali, Guimares and Joelinton as easily as Gundogan, Kovacic, Foden and Silva.

Without that option we sometimes look like we don’t have a lot of ideas going forward and we withdraw a little too much. We’ll need to find different ways to get at them and it’ll be difficult.

I’d take a draw right now.

Discipline might be important.’

‘I think they have a style that we struggle against, last year to me personally at home Vs them was one of the worst showings for a villa midfield that I can remember since the relegation season

We had luiz, Kamara, youri and mcginn, they had Miley, longstaff and Bruno and they battered us in the middle, was embarrassing how those 3 dominated the middle of the pitch.’

‘Vital we don’t let Newcastle score early…..but they have some great players Isac……arguably the best striker in the premier league for me.’

‘Controversial opinion but Howe has done at least as good a job as Emery has here over there. Remember they were bottom of the table when he took over and not sure they had even won a game. He has spent more but took over a much worse squad than Unai. Getting the likes of Murphy performing so well is impressive as well as players like Longstaff and having to throw Miley in at the deep end last season because of Tonali’s suspension, they still finished 7th. Gordon was pretty average at Everton before he joined but now top class, the two full backs had potential but he’s got them performing consistently. Having to play 33 year old Burn at centre half because Botman got a long injury. Very impressive job, he’d have been a very good candidate for the England job, although Unai has had the better career overall.

Anyway I’ve brought Gordon and Isak into my FPL team so hopefully I jinx them. I just cannot have much faith with them in such good form.’