Villa v Newcastle Preview

Aston Villa v Newcastle United Preview

Aston Villa v Newcastle United
English Premier League
Villa Park, Aston
Tuesday 29 January, 2013
19:45 GMT

Aston Villa have a great chance to pull clear of the bottom three places in the Premier League when they host Newcastle United. Newcastle are just one point above Villa in the table and are the only side in the Premier League without an away win.

Aston Villa Preview
There hasn`t been too much difference between Aston Villa`s home record and their away form. Their home stats currently read two wins, four draws and five defeats. The problem has been scoring goals to decide close matches with only eight goals for. They drew 2-2 in their last match at West Brom which slightly shortens their betting odds .

Injuries and Suspensions

Aston Villa will be missing several key players ahead of this match. Stilian Petrov, Chris Herd, Gary Gardner and Marc Albrighton are set to miss out with Karim El Ahmadi away at the Africa Cup of Nations. Nathan Baker, Fabian Delph and Richard Dunne are all touch and go to be fit in time. Shay Given is 50/50 to take a place on the subs bench with a hamstring problem.

If you fancy an Aston Villa win then they are available at 16/11 with Bwin.

Newcastle United Preview

Newcastle United have been badly hit by injuries to key players this season as they carry on their search for an elusive first away win. They lost 2-1 at home to Reading in their last game and the problem for the side has been both scoring and conceding goals away from home with a current goal difference of minus 11.

Injuries and Suspensions

Cheick Tiote is away at the Africa Cup of Nations. Hatem Ben Arfa, Dan Gosling, Ryan Taylor, Danny Simpson and Haris Vuckic are all ruled out. Yohan Cabaye is recovering well from a groin problem but this match is likely to be too soon for the club`s skipper.

Newcastle are 24/13 with Bwin if you think they can secure their first win of the season.

Aston Villa v Newcastle United Statistics

Villa will be looking to drastically improve on their current record if they are going to stay in the Premier League. Their current league record is four wins, eight draws and 11 defeats. There is big potential there to start picking up additional points.

Newcastle`s stats for the season are marginally better with five wins, six draws and 12 defeats from all games in total. Newcastle have conceded a staggering 41 goals which is going to drag the side back into the Championship if they don`t improve.

Head to Head:

There have been 76 matches between these sides at Aston Villa`s home ground with Villa holding the clear advantage with 40 wins, Newcastle have secured 18 wins and 18 matches have also ended in draws. Last season`s fixture was a 1-1 draw and Toon fans have to go back to 2005/2006 to find their last win which was 2-1.

Recent Form

Aston Villa have not started 2013 well having played three games, drawn two and lost one. The two draws both came away at Swansea City and West Brom and the defeat came at home against Southampton.

Newcastle have an even worse record so far in January with their only point coming from a 0-0 draw away at Norwich City. Both defeats the club has suffered this month have come at home in losses against Everton and Reading.

Aston Villa v Newcastle United Prediction

Newcastle`s poor away form this season hasn`t been generated out of bad luck. Aston Villa have a real chance to get away from the bottom three and they are slightly more blessed in the injuries department which should give them a fragile advantage. Aston Villa 1-0 Newcastle United.

Back this 1-0 win for Villa at tempting odds of 31/4 with Bwin.