Aston Villa v Newcastle United
Football : English Premier League
Saturday 17 September 2011 - Kickoff 3pm

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Aston Villa

Alex McCleish has made an unbeaten start to his Aston Villa career, but I am sure he will be hoping they can turn a few draws into wins to keep the fans on board after their furious reaction to his appointment in June.

Aston Villa are 8th in the Premier League having picked up 6 points from the opening 4 games of the season and they have also progressed to the 3rd Round of the Carling Cup. Villa are 1-1-0 at home this season, scoring 3 goals and conceding 1 and they have also beaten Hereford 2-0 here.

The team come into this game having drawn their last 2 games, although they would have been happy with their performance in coming back from a goal behind on two occasions against Everton last week. Aston Villa have lost just 1 of their last 12 games in all competitions at home, although they are 4-3-0 at Villa Park in their last 7 in all competitions. Villa have only scored more than 1 goal at home in 1 of their last 7 Premier League games.

Carlos Cuellar is out with an injury until next weekend at the earliest. Jermaine Jenas and Emile Heskey are both also injured and missing from this game.

Newcastle United

Alan Pardew is trying to keep this side going in the Premier League knowing they are lacking some key components with a lack of strikers being the biggest concern for the club. The Toon Army are still very unhappy with owner Mike Ashley who has allowed the likes of Andy Carroll, Jose Enrique, Kevin Nolan and Joey Barton leave the club without bringing in sufficient replacements.

While the fans may not be happy with the owner, they will be proud that the club are currently up to 4th in the Premier League having picked up 8 points from their opening 4 games of the season. The problems up front are telling considering the side have scored just 3 goals, but defensively they have been sound by keeping 3 clean sheets. Newcastle are 1-1-0 away from home, scoring 1 goal and yet to concede.

The Magpies beat local rivals Sunderland in their first away game of the season, and were perhaps a little fortunate to earn a 0-0 draw at QPR last Monday. Newcastle have won a game at Scunthorpe in the Carling Cup, but that took an effort in extra time to do so. Newcastle's win at Sunderland is their only one in 7 away Premier League games, and they have only scored 4 goals in that time.

Hatem Ben Arfa is expected back in the squad either for the Carling Cup game against Nottingham Forest next week, while Mike Williamson is out until next month.

Head to Head

Aston Villa were trounced 6-0 at St James' Park last season, but have enjoyed a lot more success when Newcastle visit Villa Park.

Villa have won their last 4 home games against Newcastle in the League, 3 of those without conceding, including a 1-0 win here last season.

Prediction

I have to say I like Aston Villa at just about odds against in places as the pick from this game. I think Alex McCleish has employed some attacking tactics in his games so far and has also seemingly helped their defensive shape since coming in from Birmingham City. That is telling in the fact the team have kept clean sheets in 3 of their 5 games this season.

Newcastle look a little short when it comes to creativity and goal scorers at the moment and I think it will be tough for them to think they will be able to get away with performances like they had at QPR. The home team had a number of chances in that game and I think Villa have a few more players capable of taking advantage if those chances are presented to them.

Their recent home record against Newcastle gives me a little more belief in their ability to win this game and I think it may only take 1 goal for them to do so, especially of Shay Given continues his strong form of late against one of his former clubs.

The Statistics :

The Pick :

Aston Villa 1-0 Newcastle United

FIXED ODDS BETTING :

I'll back Aston Villa @ 2.00