Aston Villa Vs Newcastle United |
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Date:
Saturday 28th August 2004
Kick Off: 3.00pm UK
Venue: Villa Park
Ref: Mike Riley
Comp: Premiership |
| Match Preview
In Association With Toon
Ale |
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Bobby Needs To Drop Shearer
& Dire
Wednesday's game at home to Norwich was a must win game - we drew.
Once again this game is a must win - can we? If Newcastle don't pick
up the 3 points Bobby might have to retract his 'I won't quit' comments,
he'll be pushed. Last Season we needed to beat Villa to leapfrog Liverpool
but we could only manage a draw, a good draw admittedly, considering
we played with 10 men for 80 minutes, but we really do need a win.
We are already playing catch up and we can't afford to let slip yet
more points.
Villa have had an inconsistent start, a win, a draw and a defeat.
Thankfully the likes of Charlton, Birmingham and Fulham have also
had an inconsistent start. A win will push us up the League and give
us confidence for the Blackburn match at St. James' just under two
weeks time. By then Stephen Taylor and Titus Bramble should be fit
and we could have one or two new additions to the squad. So a win
is imperative to kick start our Season.
If Bobby starts with the same team that he did against Norwich however
I don't fancy our chances. It's about time he got tough and dropped
under performing players. Namely Alan Shearer and Kieron Dire, who
should never wear the Black & White shirt again. I can only hope
today's rumours of a 6m move to Villa have some substance.
Shearer just hasn't been performing and hasn't done so for a few months
now. We have Kluivert on the bench, a proven top-class goalscorer.
Time to unleash him on the Premiership because we need that movement
and creativity in the attacking 3rd which Shearer doesn't provide.
Bowyer must start alongside Nicky Butt, not JJ or Dire. Not only will
Bowyer provide a goal threat he'll also make our midfield tougher
and give it more of a backbone. If Bobby starts with Paddy and Bowyer
we could be in business.
Fingers crossed. Howay the Toon!
Probable team:
| Given |
| Carr
Hughes O'Brien Bernard |
| Milner
Butt Jenas Robert |
| Shearer
Bellamy |
| NUFC Squad News &
Pre-Match Reaction |
Bobby Robson on the match:
"If there is a God then we will go to Aston Villa and we will
have a bit of luck this time because we certainly didn't have any
down there last season!
"We lost five players in one match which is just incredible,
one to a red card and four to injury.
"I don't think that can happen again. Maybe and hopefully we
can go there and get our first win of the season."
United squad:
Given, Harper, Carr, Bernard, Hughes, O'Brien, Elliott, Ramage, Butt,
Dyer, Jenas, Milner, Robert, Bowyer, Brittain, Shearer, Bellamy, Kluivert,
Ameobi.
Jenas has recovered from his knock, Brittain and Ramage make the squad
as cover.
| Aston Villa Squad News
& Pre-Match Reaction |
Villa squad:
Sorensen, Postma, De La Cruz, Delaney, Mellberg, Laursen, Samuel,
Hendrie, Solano, McCann, Hitzlsperger, Berson, Barry, Cole, Vassell,
Angel, Allback, L.Moore, Drobny.
Ex Mackem Thomas Sorensen is a doubt with a knee injury. Lee Henrie
has recovered from his injury and Nobby Solano is expected to start
against his former team-mates.
Nobby Solano on the match:
"Newcastle haven't had the start they wished for, and we too
have been disappointed - especially with going down 3-0 away to Charlton.
"So both sides have a lot to play for and although it is still
August, we all know that it's important for Villa to take points off
Newcastle as we're rivals for a European spot. Whether this is Champions
League or UEFA Cup football remains to be seen.
"We should aim for Champions League football as there is nothing
wrong with having ambition, but we should also be realistic - it would
be an incredible achievement simply because we don't; have the resources
of Arsenal, Man Utd, Chelsea, Liverpool and Newcastle.
"Newcastle will be determined to get something from the game
and we must be ready for them. Bellers (Craig Bellamy) looks to be
on top form and the they also have Shearer, Ameobi and now Kluivert
to score goals.
"I know we conceded three against Charlton, but our defence is
better than that. We hope that Thomas Sorenson is fit, but whether
he plays or not, I'm sure it's going to be a tight game.
Mike Riley: Officiated our final game of last Season at Anfield
in the 1-1 draw against Liverpool that secured United a UEFA Cup place.
An easy game for him that afternoon in a match where Andy Griffin
could have saw red for one or two tasty tackles.
| Last Meeting (at Villa Park) |
Villa 0-0 NUFC (Premiership: 18th of April 2004)
United managed to come away from Villa park with a clean sheet and
a point despite going down to 10 men when Andy O'Brien was adjudged
to have pulled down Darius Vassell in a performances of tremendous
spirit and effort. However Toon supporters will remember this game
as the turning point in our Season where we lost both Bellamy and
Jenas for the remainder of the campaign due to injuries - two vital
blows as we looked to make it to the final of the UEFA Cup and to
grab that final Champions League spot. Failing with both. Kieron Dyer
played right-back that day, prompting Shay Given to compare him to
the Brazilian Cafu. Thankfully Shay has since regained his senses.
The teams that day
Villa: Sorensen, Samuel, Johnsen (Ridgewell 88),
Mellberg, De la Cruz, Barry, Hitzlsperger, Hendrie, Solano (Whittingham
69), Crouch (Allback 62),Vassell. Subs not used: Delaney, Postma.
United: Given, Bernard, Woodgate, O'Brien (sent off
10), Hughes, Robert (Bowyer 35), Jenas, Viana 35), Speed, Dyer, Shearer,
Bellamy (Bridges 52). Subs not used Elliott, Harper.
Attendance: 40,786
| Last 5 Meetings (at St. James'
Park - all competitions) |
| Date |
Score |
Comp |
Toon Scorers |
| 18/4/2004 |
Drew 0-0 |
Premiership |
None |
| 17/12/2002 |
Won 1-0 |
Premiership |
Shearer |
| 2/4/2002 |
Drew 1-1 |
Premiership |
Shearer |
| 17/1/2001 |
Lost 1-0 |
FAC R3 Replay |
|
| 2/12/2000 |
Drew 1-1 |
Premiership |
Solano |
| |
Newcastle United wins |
Draws |
Aston
Villa Wins |
| League |
59 |
28 |
45 |
| FA Cup |
2 |
1 |
4 |
| Total |
61 |
29 |
49 |
| Form Guide (League &
Cups) |
| Newcastle |
Aston
Villa |
| Opposition |
V |
Result |
Opposition |
V |
Result |
| Norwich City |
H |
D 2-2 |
Charlton Athletic |
A |
L 3-0 |
| Tottenham Hotspur |
H |
L 1-0 |
West Bromwich Albion |
A |
D 1-1 |
| Middlesbrough |
A |
D 2-2 |
Southampton |
H |
W 2-0 |
| Liverpool |
A |
D 1-1 |
Manchester United |
H |
L 2-0 |
| Southampton |
A |
D 3-3 |
Southampton |
A |
D 1-1 |
| Wolverhampton Wanderers |
H |
D 1-1 |
Tottenham Hotspur |
H |
W 1-0 |
| Marseille |
A |
L 2-0 |
Middlesbrough |
A |
W 2-1 |
| Manchester City |
A |
L 1-0 |
Newcastle United |
H |
D 0-0 |
| Chelsea |
H |
W 2-1 |
Chelsea |
H |
W 3-2 |
| Marseille |
H |
D 0-0 |
Bolton Wanderers |
A |
D 2-2 |
| *Last
10 matches in all competitions. Keys: V
= Venue L = Loss W
= Win D = Draw |
A 2-1 win with Bowyer and Kluivert grabbing the goals (please). Nobby
Solano to score Villa's obviously. We have to win and Villa Park is
usually a good hunting ground for the Toon. Fingers crossed. |
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