Aston Villa v Newcastle United: Moment of truth for the Toon Army
Newcastle United have been involved in some huge games during their history but this weekend’s clash with Aston Villa is undoubtedly their biggest and most important game in a generation. Win and Alan Shearer has a chance of managing the club he loves in the top flight next season. Lose and more than 55,000 men, women and children will be crying their hearts out as the nightmare of trips to Doncaster Rovers, Peterborough United and Plymouth Argyle next season becomes a reality.
Nobody in their right mind expected Newcastle United to be in this position at the start of the season but they have gone from one crisis to another and are now just 90 minutes away from sensationally dropping out of the top flight. Even if they beat Martin O’Neill’s men at Villa Park on Sunday there’s still a chance that Newcastle United could go down as Hull City line up against the champions Manchester United and north east rivals Sunderland take on Chelsea at the Stadium of Light. Although it’s highly unlikely that both Hull City and Sunderland will win their games, Alan Shearer knows that Newcastle’s future is ultimately out of their hands.
It looked a lot different a fortnight ago when the Mags put three past Middlesbrough at St James’ Park to lift themselves out of the bottom three, but defeat at home to Fulham, combined with Hull City’s point at Bolton Wanderers, has put the Geordies back in the firing line. However, despite having only recorded one win at Villa Park in their past five visits, Newcastle fans can travel to the Midlands feeling confident. They’ve taken more points off Villa than any other team in the Premier League, they haven’t lost to a single team in the Midlands this season (they beat Villa 2-0 in November) and Aston Villa have won just once in their past 15 league and cup games.
However, before all of those with black and white blood running their veins get too excited, Newcastle have only won on their travels twice in this campaign (v Portsmouth and West Bromwich Albion), they’ve lost their last two away games without even scoring and haven’t done the double over Villa for 10 seasons.
But this game isn’t all about Alan Shearer and Newcastle United. Aston Villa want to clinch fifth place ahead of Everton (who play Fulham) and beat last season’s points tally, so they won’t be turning up just to roll over to Shearer’s men.
Sunday’s game is going to be fast and furious as Newcastle know that they must win to have any chance of beating the drop (although a point could be sufficient if Hull City lost to Manchester United) , but an all-out attacking formation could provide Villa’s speed merchants the chance to counter attack and seal the Geordies’ fate.
The Geordies have given the Premier League some magical memories down the years and the top flight would ultimately be a far quieter place without the passionate Toon Army, but they will be praying that luck shines on them this weekend.
Newcastle United haven’t won anything of real importance in almost 40 years, but if they win on Sunday and stay up Tyneside will be party central. And if Sunderland happen to fall through the trapdoor instead, Newcastle fans will be convinced there is a God!
