Aston Villa v Newcastle United team news & stats

Mark Holmes
Gabriel Agbonlahor: Slate wiped clean

Newcastle United are unbeaten in nine Premier League games against Aston Villa going into Saturday’s huge clash at Villa Park.

Team news

Aston Villa will be without Aly Cissokho after he was shown a straight red card in the defeat to Watford last weekend.

Rudy Gestede sustained a knock at Vicarage Road and is a doubt, while it remains to be seen whether Gabriel Agbonlahor will be involved now his club ban is lifted.

Jordan Veretout is struggling with a pelvic problem and Kieran Richardson (calf) is still out.

Vurnon Anita is fit for Newcastle after shaking off a muscle injury sustained against Crystal Palace, while Daryl Janmaat has recovered from a groin problem and will wear a protective cast over his broken hand.

However, the Magpies are still without skipper Fabricio Coloccini (calf), goalkeepers Tim Krul and Rob Elliot (both knee), and defender Massadio Haidara (knee).

Opta stats

  • Newcastle United are unbeaten in nine Premier League games against Aston Villa (W5 D4 L0).
  • Aston Villa have lost their last 11 Premier League games – only one side in Premier League history has lost more in a row (Sunderland, 20 between January 2003 and September 2005).
  • Another defeat for Villa in this game would set a new club record for the longest run of league defeats, with Villa also recording 11 successive losses in 1963.
  • A draw in their last Premier League away game at Anfield ended a run of nine consecutive away defeats for Newcastle and secured them their only away point in 2016 so far.
  • The Magpies have scored just 13 goals in their last 24 Premier League away games, but five of those have come in the last three away trips.
  • There have been just four goals scored in the last four Premier League meetings between these two teams.
  • Newcastle (W2 D2) have gone four games unbeaten in the Premier League for the first time since October-November 2014 (six unbeaten in that run under Alan Pardew).
  • The Villans have made a league-low 82 substitutions this season, eight fewer than any other side (Everton next on 90).
  • Andros Townsend has scored more Premier League goals for Newcastle in just 11 appearances for the club (4) than he managed for Tottenham in 50 games (3).
  • Only Leicester’s N’Golo Kanté has made more tackles (158) and interceptions (148) than Idrissa Gueye in the top-flight this season (134 tackles, 139 interceptions).