Newcastle vs Aston Villa prediction: ENGLAND: Premier League betting tips on match 2024-12-25 15:00.
[p]Newcastle United fans will be enjoying the holiday season after their side registered consecutive 4-0 Premier League wins either side of qualifying for the EFL Cup semi-finals by beating Brentford 3-1. Following a bit of a slump, back-to-back league victories by 4+ goal margins for the first time since 1998 have moved them closer to the European qualifying positions.[/p]
[p]St James’ Park will therefore be rocking on Boxing Day for Aston Villa’s visit as the Magpies look to build on a three-match unbeaten streak here in all competitions (W2, D1). While they haven’t lost a home H2H since 2005 (W10, D6) including winning the last two meetings by four-goal margins, they’ve only won one of their last four top-flight Boxing Day fixtures at home (L3) – that win was coincidentally also by a four-goal margin![/p]
[p]After beating Manchester City 2-1, Villa fans will also be enjoying the festive period and hoping for more success given they’ve won three of their last four league fixtures (L1) and reside in the top six ahead of the round. Manager Unai Emery was bullish following that latest win and having only lost one league fixture this season to sides that start this round below them, confidence should be high.[/p]
[p]But that record at St James’ Park will concern the Villans, especially as they’ve lost their last four Premier League away games while conceding an average of 2.75 goals per fixture. That’s their worst such run in one season since they closed the 2015/16 campaign with seven straight league away defeats en route to relegation to the Championship![/p]
[p]Key battle: Bruno Guimarães has three goal contributions (G1, A2) across his last three appearances in all competitions, with Newcastle winning all 14 of his goalscoring games in the Premier League. Up against him in midfield, Villa’s John McGinn boasts the same tally across his last three competitive games (G1, A2) while five of his last six club strikes opened the scoring.[/p]
[p]Hot stat: Villa have conceded seven goals after the 80th minute in the Premier League this term – a joint-competition high after the last matchday.[/p]
[p][i]Written by John Pennington[/i][/p]