Villa aim to extend unbeaten run
Men
38 minutes ago
Aston Villa travel to Newcastle United on Saturday evening looking to extend a four-match unbeaten sequence in all competitions.
The Villans head to the north-east on the back of Wednesday’s emphatic 6-0 victory over Fenerbahçe in the UEFA Champions League.
Unai Emery’s side have won their last three away matches on the road – Tottenham Hotspur, Coventry City and Club Brugge – and will be looking to continue that momentum against the Magpies (ko 5.30pm).
Having gone unbeaten for their first five fixtures of the campaign, Newcastle have lost two of their previous three matches.
Monday’s 4-1 Premier League defeat at Coventry followed victory over Hull City and defeat at Leeds United.
The Magpies won the last meeting between the two sides, triumphing 3-1 over 10-man Villa in the FA Cup in February, but Emery’s charges are unbeaten in their last three league meetings.
Indeed, it was the Villans who triumphed in last season’s corresponding fixture, goals from Emi Buendía and Ollie Watkins clinching a 2-0 success.
Stats
Newcastle are winless in their last three Premier League games against Villa (D1 L2), losing 2-0 in their most recent game. They haven’t lost consecutive games against Villa since losing both games in 2004/05, the second game in which saw Steven Taylor, Lee Bowyer and Kieron Dyer all sent off.
Villa won 2-0 in their last away Premier League game against Newcastle. They haven’t won consecutive league visits to St James’ Park since a run of three between 1955/56 and 1957/58.
Newcastle have gone 12 consecutive Premier League games without a clean sheet at St James’ Park, last having a longer run without a shutout between December 1998 and August 1999 under Ruud Gullit (13 games).
Newcastle have conceded 13 Premier League goals this season, their third-most after six matches after 1999/00 (18) and 2021/22 (14), going on to finish 11th in both seasons. Only Chelsea (36) have faced more shots on target this season than the Magpies (34).
In 2026, only Tottenham Hotspur (13) have lost more Premier League games than Newcastle (12), while the Magpies have shipped the joint-most goals (44, level with Chelsea).
Since the start of 2023/24 – which began with Newcastle beating Villa 5-1 on MD1 – St James’ Park has seen more goals than any other Premier League venue (208) and has seen the most games played without any ending goalless (60).
Villa boss Emery has won 99 of his 196 Premier League games (D44 L53). Victory in this game would make him the joint-ninth fastest manager to 100 victories in the competition.
Newcastle’s Harvey Barnes has been involved in 10 goals in 13 Premier League games against Villa (6 goals, 4 assists), his joint-most against an opponent, along with West Ham. He only has more Premier League goals against Leeds (7).
Villa’s Nicolas Jackson has scored in his last two Premier League games, only netting in three in a row once in the competition (May 2024 for Chelsea).
The Last Meeting
Ten-man Aston Villa bowed out of the FA Cup following a 3-1 fourth-round defeat to Newcastle in February.
Tammy Abraham put Villa ahead with his first goal back in claret and blue, 2,471 days after his last in 2018/19, as he converted Douglas Luiz’s chipped ball into the box following a well-worked free-kick.
Yet the tie’s key moment came in first-half injury time as Marco Bizot was given his marching orders having brought down Jacob Murphy near the halfway line following a swift Newcastle counter-attack.
The hosts led at Villa Park until the 63rd minute when Sandro Tonali’s deflected strike found the net, before the Italian duly drilled a low 25-yard effort into the bottom corner to put the Magpies ahead.
Nick Woltemade subsequently added a third in the 88th minute to see off a battling Villa and book Newcastle’s place in the fifth round.
Team News
Ross Barkley and George Hemmings will be assessed ahead of the encounter.
Barkley scored twice against Fenerbahçe in midweek before hobbling off late on, while fellow midfielder Hemmings missed the encounter altogether.
Ian Maatsen and Matteo Ruggeri remain sidelined due to injury, along with long-term absentee Amadou Onana.
Newcastle head coach Matthias Jaissle is hopeful Bazoumana Touré will be available for selection.
United remain without injured trio Anthony Elanga, Tino Livramento and former Villa midfielder Jacob Ramsey.
The Scout’s FPL Briefing
- Harvey Barnes (£6.1m) has produced a goal and two assists in his last four appearances. In that time, only three midfielders have had more shots on target (five) and only four have produced more points (25)
- John McGinn (£5.4m) has delivered an attacking return in each of his last three matches, with one goal and two assists
- On his two starts since returning from injury, Johan Manzambi (£5.9m) has returned a goal and two assists. No midfielder has had as many shots (11) in that time
Managers' Pre-Match Thoughts
“Newcastle in their home is always very difficult. They are going to press, they’re going to play with their supporters pushing them. Individually, they’re going to get duels and be very demanding to beat us. From our side, we must be ready to compete strongly. Strongly defending, strongly offensively as well, very compact, each player focused 100% on his task and doing it. We will need players on the bench ready to play in case we need fresh legs.”
Unai EmeryOn facing Newcastle
"It gives them a huge boost. They have their problems in the league but a quality squad picked with such individual class and a coach who has shown, over many years, his quality. We are aware what we are facing but at home, with our crowd backing us, we can hurt every opponent."
Matthias JaissleOn Villa, speaking after Wednesday’s 6-0 win over Fenerbahçe in the Champions League
