STAR PREVIEW: Aston Villa v Newcastle

Not many Newcastle fans were happy to see Steve Bruce appointed manager but the new boss has made an impressive start to life at St James’ Park and bookmakers look to have underestimated them ahead of their trip to Villa Park tonight.

Newcastle started the season just 2/1 to be relegated, odds that shortened after a 1-0 defeat to Arsenal and a 3-1 defeat at Norwich, but they have since found their feet and appear to be picking up steam. Since that defeat at Carrow Road, their only losses have been at Leicester, Liverpool and Chelsea. Those three sides make three of the top four and Newcastle have impressed since, and that Chelsea defeat (1-0) is the only loss they’ve suffered in their last five.

What’s more, Newcastle impressed in a draw with Wolves and then successive wins against West Ham (3-2) and Bournemouth (2-1). Joelinton has been well supported by Allan Saint-Maximin and Miguel Almiron in what finally looks to be an effective midfield three but Newcastle have benefited a great deal from the impressive performances of Ciaran Clark, who has scored in both wins against West Ham and Newcastle, whilst Jonjo Shelvey is also in a very good run of form.

Aston Villa v Newcastle United
Premier League
20:00 Sky Sports Premier League / Sky Sports Main Event / Sky Sports Ultra HD

HEAD TO HEAD RECORD*
(Maximum 10 matches)
FEB 2017 CHAMPIONSHIP Newcastle 2-0 Aston Villa
SEP 2016 CHAMPIONSHIP Aston Villa 1-1 Newcastle
MAY 2016 PREMIER LEAGUE Aston Villa 0-0 Newcastle
DEC 2015 PREMIER LEAGUE Newcastle 1-1 Aston Villa
FEB 2015 PREMIER LEAGUE Newcastle 1-0 Aston Villa
AUG 2014 PREMIER LEAGUE Aston Villa 0-0 Newcastle
FEB 2014 PREMIER LEAGUE Newcastle 1-0 Aston Villa
SEP 2013 PREMIER LEAGUE Aston Villa 1-2 Newcastle
JAN 2013 PREMIER LEAGUE Aston Villa 1-2 Newcastle
SEP 2012 PREMIER LEAGUE Newcastle 1-1 Aston Villa

Aston Villa may be only seventeenth but they have played well with a tough set of fixtures and Dean Smith doesn’t have too much to worry about in the long term. The likely return of Jack Grealish, Tom Heaton and Bjorn Engels gives him a boost and they’re better than their recent results (defeats to Manchester City, Liverpool and Wolves) would suggest, but Newcastle might be underrated by their position in the table and they look overpriced at 12/5 for tonight’s encounter.

RECOMMENDED BETS (scale of 1-100 points)
BACK NEWCASTLE 5 pt at 12/5 with

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