Matchday thread - Toon v Villa

[UlversToon]

Newcastle kick off their Premier League campaign at home on Saturday, hosting Aston Villa in a 5.30pm kick-off that's live on Sky Sports.

United ended last season unbeaten in their final four PL games following a 0-2 loss to Arsenal that was one of just two PL home defeats in the entire campaign.

The Villans are winless in their last 15 visits to SJP, with nine home victories and six draws since David O'Leary's side won 3-0 on Tyneside in April 2005.

That was the game in which three United players were infamously dismissed - and only the second time that Villa had won at SJP in the Premier League.

Their other PL success on Barrack Road was the first game of the 1999/00 campaign, when Alan Shearer saw red during a 0-1 loss.

One has to go back to April 1989 and a 2-1 victory by Graham Taylor's side for the last occasion that Villa beat an 11 man Magpies side at SJP.

Team: Fabian Schar has returned to training and will be available after sitting out the final two friendlies.

Emil Krafth and Joe Willock remain sidelined and won't come into consideration for selection until after the September international break.

Possible competitive debuts for Sandro Tonali, Harvey Barnes and Tino Livramento would increase the number of players to have represented the club in the Premier League from the current total of 257.

Coral price this game as follows:

NUFC win 8/11
The draw 11/4
AVFC win 18/5
Joelinton to score, NUFC win 11/2
Anthony Gordon to score once 14/5
Draw at HT / NUFC win FT 7/2
NUFC to score in opening 10 minutes 6/1

AVFC: Emiliano Buendia has sustained an ACL injury and faces an extended period out. Prominent in Villa's 3-0 win over Newcastle last April, the Argentinean netted twice against Eddie Howe's side during the recent pre-season meeting in the USA.

Jacob Ramsey, Bertrand Traore, Jhon Duran, Tim Iroegbunam and Alex Moreno are all also missing.

Referee: Andy Madley - two Toon games last season for the West Yorkshire whistler; the 0-0 draw away at Arsenal and the 2-1 home victory over Wolves.

VAR: Simon Hooper

UK TV: Live on Sky Sports

UK Radio: Live on BBC Radio 5 Live Sport

Local Radio: Live on BBC Radio Newcastle

Hospital Radio: Radio Tyneside commentary is accessible free of charge in local hospitals via Hospedia.

Stats:

Villans @ SJP - PL era:

2022/23 Won 4-0 Wilson 2, Joelinton, Almiron
2021/22 Won 1-0 Trippier
2020/21 Drew 1-1 Lascelles
2019/20 Drew 1-1 Gayle
2016/17 Won 2-0 Gouffran, og(Lansbury) (CH)
2015/16 Drew 1-1 Coloccini
2014/15 Won 1-0 Cisse
2013/14 Won 1-0 Remy
2012/13 Drew 1-1 Ben Arfa
2011/12 Won 2-1 Ba, Cisse
2010/11 Won 6-0 Barton, Nolan 2, Carroll 3
2008/09 Won 2-0 Martins
2007/08 Drew 0-0
2006/07 Won 3-1 Milner, Dyer, Sibierski
2005/06 Drew 1-1 Shearer (pen)
2004/05 Lost 0-3
2003/04 Drew 1-1 Robert
2002/03 Drew 1-1 Solano
2001/02 Won 3-0 Bellamy 2, Shearer
2000/01 Won 3-1 Glass, Cort, OG
2000/01 Drew 1-1 Solano (FAC)
1999/00 Lost 0-1
1998/99 Won 2-1 Shearer, Ketsbaia
1997/98 Won 1-0 Beresford
1996/97 Won 4-3 Ferdinand 2, Shearer, Howey
1995/96 Won 1-0 Ferdinand
1994/95 Won 3-1 Beardsley 2, Venison
1993/94 Won 5-1 Beardsley 2, Sellars, Bracewell, Cole

NUFC - season-opening PL results:

1993/94 Spurs (h) lost 0-1
1994/95 Leicester City (a) won 3-1
1995/96 Coventry City (h) won 3-0
1996/97 Everton (a) lost 0-2
1997/98 Sheffield Wednesday (h) won 2-1
1998/99 Charlton Athletic (h) drew 0-0
1999/00 Aston Villa (h) lost 0-1
2000/01 Manchester United (a) lost 0-2
2001/02 Chelsea (a) drew 1-1
2002/03 West Ham (h) won 4-0
2003/04 Leeds United (a) drew 2-2
2004/05 smoggies (a) drew 2-2
2005/06 Arsenal (a) lost 0-2
2006/07 Wigan Athletic (h) won 2-1
2007/08 Bolton Wanderers (a) won 3-1
2008/09 Manchester United (a) drew 1-1
2010/11 Manchester United (a) lost 0-3
2011/12 Arsenal (h) drew 0-0
2012/13 Spurs (h) won 2-1
2013/14 Manchester City (a) lost 0-4
2014/15 Manchester City (h) lost 0-2
2015/16 Southampton (h) drew 2-2
2017/18 Spurs (h) lost 0-2
2018/19 Spurs (h) lost 1-2
2019/20 Arsenal (h) lost 0-1
2020/21 West Ham (a) won 2-0
2021/22 West Ham (h) lost 2-4
2022/23 Nottingham Forest (h) won 2-0

Latest PL result/fixtures:

Fri 11.08.2023:
Burnley 0-3 Manchester City

Sat 12.08.2023:
Arsenal v Nottingham Forest (12.30pm) TNT
Bournemouth v West Ham (3pm)
Brighton & Hove Albion v Luton Town (3pm)
Everton v Fulham (3pm)
Sheffield United v Crystal Palace (3pm)
Newcastle v Aston Villa (5.30pm) Sky

Sun 13.08.2023:
Brentford v Spurs (2pm) Sky
Chelsea v Liverpool (4.30pm) Sky

Mon 14.08.2023:
Manchester United v Wolves (8pm) Sky

[UlversToon]

3-0 Toon (Izak, Gordon & Wilson)

[overseasTOON]

It's refreshing to actually look forward to the start of a season

Just thinking back to the season starts under Bruce et al and trying to envisage how s*** we'll play; those days are truly behind us now.

Villa will be a good test overall and should be pushing us through out the season for league position.

I'm expecting a win today and hoping to see some consistent link up play with midfield and attack and maintaining that high press.

Isak, Bruno and Barnes to score.

[bodacious benny]

Buendia being out is good news as he’s looked good in pre season. Villa are 100% a direct competitor this season so need to get off to a good start.

[TJR]

Buendia, Ramsey and Moreno being out is a massive bonus. This three and Watkins ripped us apart at Villa Park back end of last season. Buendia was great against us pre season as well.

This could be a good time to play them. I fancy us to win today, atmosphere will be great with it being first game of the season, we've had a good pre season and are looking fit and sharp. 2-1.

[Blue & Maroon]

2 2 draw

[UlversToon]

Newcastle: Pope, Trippier, Botman, Schar, Joelinton, Tonali, Gordon, Isak, Almiron, Burn, Guimaraes.

Substitutes: Dubravka, Lascelles, Wilson, Targett, Barnes, Livramento, Murphy, Anderson, Longstaff.


Aston Villa:Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Luiz, McGinn, Watkins, Digne, Diaby, Bailey, Kamara.

Substitutes:Olsen, Carlos, Tielemans, Torres, Chambers, Coutinho, Philogene, Archer, Kellyman.

[Blue & Maroon]

Strong side, I'd have had Elliott in there somewhere but cant complain!

[Chappy]

Quietly confident today. Looking forward to seeing how Tonali & Gordon do in particular.

[Chappy]

ON HIS DEBUT!!!! YA f***ing BEAUTY!!!

[originallad]

Great start! And Tonali too!

[Chappy]

Well... at least I've got him in me fantasy team

[originallad]

Here we go. VAR. Really wish they'd ditch it full stop. Just ruins it for me.

[overseasTOON]

VAR!!

and Isak.

[Chappy]

Diaby vs. Burn

[originallad]

Diaby looks class.

[overseasTOON]

f*** Aston Villa.

Edit: the GK Vs Miggy.

Edit 2: Actually. Just f*** Aston Villa.

[Blue & Maroon]

10 mins added time, how the f*** can you plan for it as a match attending fan? No thought given to them as per usual, especially away fans.

[Chappy]

Good half. Was hoping for a third before half time for a bit of comfort. Diaby looks class and his pace is terrifying. Villa lucky not to have Martinez sent off - I still don't see how it wasn't a red, Miggy gets past Martinez and it's a goal. Think we've been the better side and deserve to be up, but far from relaxing...

[NoteToSelf]

Tbf, it looked a pretty bad injury for Tyrone Mings.
Added 10 minutes was warranted.

As for Martinez, only thing I can think of is - if that was an outfield player would it be a red?
On the by-line...probably not in all honesty.