Match day thread - NUFC v Villa

[Toondes]

From nufc.com
Aston Villa (h)

Monday evening sees Steve Bruce and his jolly boys visit SJP, currently excelling in the Championship (17th) under the expert stewardship of Tony Xai.

Kick-off is at 8pm, televised live on Sky Sports.

Tickets are now on public sale, Villa discounting places to their own fans by £10 to £17 for adults. They took an allocation of 2,200 and have sold 1,760 so far.

Villa haven't won on Tyneside in their last ten visits, since the infamous 0-3 game of April 2005, when Newcastle ended with eight men on the field.

However we've not managed to beat them home or away in the most recent three meetings - a 1-0 home win in April 2015 followed by three successive draws.

This crowd surfer banner paid for by public donation that's the brainchild of Gallowgate Flags will be unfurled at 7.45pm.


There will also be a full flag display at that end of the ground and all home fans are requested to bring their black and white scarfs .
NUFC: Rolando Aarons remains unavailable but Vurnon Anita was spotted training with the squad on Friday as he draws nearer to a return from injury.

It's now confirmed that Isaac Hayden underwent ankle surgery on Friday. He's set to be sidelined for up to a month.

AVFC: Neil Taylor and James Bree are doubtful but Mile Jedinak may be included in the squad after missing the last five games. Gabby Agbonlahor misses out.

Pantomime villain Henri Lansbury has started the last five games and is set to face us for the first time since he was a Forest player when we visited in December - missing Forest's return at SJP due to injury.

Comments Rafa made about Wolves fans being held to account for mocking Shelvey may prove to have been somewhat inopportune, given the likely level of hostility towards Lansbury on Monday....

The Villans haven't won since Boxing Day when they overcame Burton Albion 2-1 at Villa Park.

Losing seven of their subsequent nine league and cup games, they've taken points from home draws against Leeds and Preston.

Away from home they've lost their last four in the Championship - at Cardiff, Wolves, Brentford and Nottingham Forest.

Referee: Peter Bankes - one outing in charge of the Magpies this season, when he managed to find ten bookings from our 4-3 home win over Norwich City.

Travel: No scheduled disruptions

UK TV: Live on Sky Sports 1
Overseas TV: To follow

UK Radio: Live on BBC Radio 5 Live Extra

Local Radio: Live on BBC Radio Newcastle.
(The official NUFC website now has free worldwide streaming of Radio Newcastle match commentaries)

Stats:

Happy Mondays?

Since Demba Ba's brace and Gael Bigirimana's only competitive senior Magpies goal beat Wigan 3-0 at SJP in December 2012, we've lost all 11 games on a Monday - and failed to score in the last eight:

[TBC]

You've posted it too early!?

[Aldridge Prior]

The last paragraph of the OP worries me a little, which means I'll be wrong (as usual) and we'll absolutely pump the boring cunts.

Not a Villa fan at all, the magnolia of football.

[TJR]

Looking forward to this. With the flag and scarf displays and the vicious abuse Lansbury is going to deservedly get the atmosphere is going to be brilliant.

Can see it being a really big win. Need to make sure we get off to a quick start though. I've got a feeling it'll be the sort of game we either win 5 or 6-0 or lose 1-0.

I hope Shelvey ends that vile odious sweetheart Lansbury. No player more deserving of being on the end of a leg breaker. The horrendous cronut.

[Double Agent Bruce a.k.a DAB]

I have bad feeling about this one.

1. Our home record.
2. The fuzz about this "new rivalry".
3. Agent Bruce.

[Graw]

Bruce will see us right, 3-1

Not a fan of the 'must win' bollocks but with the 3 games after the Bristol one we really do need to take 3 points here

[Chappy]

The last paragraph of the OP worries me a little, which means I'll be wrong (as usual) and we'll absolutely pump the boring cunts.

Not a Villa fan at all, the magnolia of football.

[bodacious benny]

Not a Villa fan at all, the magnolia of football.

I find them a bit like a cobweb that you see dangling from the ceiling.

You know at some time there was probably a point to it being there. But all it is now is a mild annoyance that catches your eye occasionally, so insignificant that you can't even be bothered doing anything about it. It just exists for no real purpose.

[ALF]

Going to the pub tonight, fully expecting them to have the Arsenal game on instead

[overseasTOON]

I forgot we were playing tonight.

Wondering about heading to the pub after work to watch the match. I only live a few miles away from Sutton itself but it's likely that the local pub will be full of Gooners watching the FA Cup

[bodacious benny]

I forgot we were playing tonight.

Wondering about heading to the pub after work to watch the match. I only live a few miles away from Sutton itself but it's likely that the local pub will be full of Gooners watching the FA Cup

I was off work last week so have drunk way too much lately. Going to try and get to the end of next week without having a drink

[Bruuuuuuuuce ()]

win by 1,

[Colly]

Bruce will see us right, 3-1

Not a fan of the 'must win' bollocks but with the 3 games after the Bristol one we really do need to take 3 points here

Just change the vernacular and call it a 'need 3 points' rather than a 'must win'...

[overseasTOON]

I forgot we were playing tonight.

Wondering about heading to the pub after work to watch the match. I only live a few miles away from Sutton itself but it's likely that the local pub will be full of Gooners watching the FA Cup

I was off work last week so have drunk way too much lately. Going to try and get to the end of next week without having a drink

Well that was an easy choice.

Me: Can I stop off at the pub tonight to watch football?
Wife: No. You promised to help with her homework tonight.
Me: But it's not due in until Wednesday.
Wife: And you always tell her not to leave it until the last minute.
Me: Umm...

EDIT: Pub is back on and it only cost me £10 of paperbacks.

[originallad]

I have a horrible feeling we'll lose this. Probably 1 nil. I wish our home form was awesome and we destroyed teams.

[TBC]

I hope Lansbury gets sent off and we blow them away 4 or 5-0.

I'd take just the win too.

[Graw]

Bruce will see us right, 3-1

Not a fan of the 'must win' bollocks but with the 3 games after the Bristol one we really do need to take 3 points here

Just change the vernacular and call it a 'need 3 points' rather than a 'must win'...

But thats what I did

[biggeordiedave]

I have a horrible feeling we'll lose this. Probably 1 nil. I wish our home form was awesome and we destroyed teams.

With you on this one. I've forgotten when we last played well.

[originallad]

I have a horrible feeling we'll lose this. Probably 1 nil. I wish our home form was awesome and we destroyed teams.

With you on this one. I've forgotten when we last played well.

At home to Birmingham when we won 4 nil back in December. Some people will point to Rotherham but it was pretty even stevens until our goal in 1st half injury time. And no offence to Rotherham, but it was Rotherham.

[HowayTheLads]

Gayle is back!

Darlow, Clark, Dummett, Colback (sigh), Lacelles, Gayle, Ritchie, Shelvey, Diame, Gouffran, Yedlin (in squad number order bar Darlow).