Aston Villa vs Newcastle prediction: ENGLAND: Premier League betting tips on match 2024-01-29 20:15.
[p]After a run of no 0-0 draws that stretched back to early October 2022, neither of Aston Villa’s last two competitive outings have produced any goals as they most recently drew with Chelsea in the FA Cup, meaning they are still fighting on three fronts. ‘Fighting’ is the operative word as Unai Emery’s side sit fourth in the Premier League, five points behind leaders Liverpool, after losing just one of their last ten top-flight encounters (W6, D3).[/p]
[p]As they last lost a home league game in February 2023 (W16, D1), Unai Emery’s men have proved a match for anyone on their own patch, not least Newcastle United, who they have beaten ‘to nil’ in the last four H2Hs at Villa Park. In fact, they have not conceded a H2H goal on home soil in the Premier League since 2013 (W4, D2), so should have some degree of confidence as they welcome a fellow European hopeful. [/p]
[p]Despite Villa’s resolute defensive work at home in this fixture, they were thrashed 5-1 by Newcastle on matchday one, and Eddie Howe’s side should travel confident after a morale-boosting 2-0 FA Cup victory at Fulham on Saturday. However, after four consecutive league defeats, Howe’s men have slipped perilously close to the bottom half of the standings, so need results sooner rather than later if they are to get their push for European qualification back on track.[/p]
[p]Newcastle have struggled badly on the road, having lost their last five league away games and failing to win one since thumping Sheffield United 8-0 in September (D2, L5). And with financial regulations forcing the Magpies to look at offloading players rather than bringing in reinforcements, they are probably keen to see the back of January.[/p]
[p]Players to watch: Leon Bailey has scored in two of Villa’s last four home league matches and has got his side off the mark the last four times he has found the net. Sean Longstaff got the opener for Newcastle against Fulham – his third goal of the season to arrive between the 20th minute and half-time.[/p]
[p]Hot stat: Newcastle have not lost five league games in a row since they did so in January 2021 – a sequence that included a 2-0 defeat here.[/p]