𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Aston Villa are unbeaten in their last 21 home games in all competitions (W15 D6), winning the last eight in a row.

It’s their longest run without defeat at Villa Park since a run of 24 between September 1976 and May 1977.

The Newcastle boss was asked that question ahead of kick off an replied: “Now is not the time to discuss that.

“All my emotions are towards this game. This is a tough place to come. We have got to be there mentally, me included.”

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe, spoke to TNT Sports about Alexander Isak’s transfer saga and gave away no new details.

He said: “No different to how it has been for a number of weeks. We are without him [Alexander Isak]. We are adapting to that and still trying to be competitive. Today will be a big test for us.

“We feel in good spirits. It is a strong team he [Unai Emery] picks, so hopefully we go well.

“We believe in the team we have picked today. There have been distractions through pre-season, but that’s been for me, and not the players.”

Newcastle have won their opening league match in each of the last three seasons, more times than they had in the previous 14 campaigns combined (two wins, four draws and eight defeats).

Aston Villa won 2-1 at West Ham in their opening Premier League match last season, last winning on the first match day in consecutive campaigns between 2013-14 and 2015-16.

Can they add a third win to that run against Newcastle today?

Aston Villa defender Ezri Konsa, stopped by TNT Sports to chat about today’s match and says he hopes to continue the good form Villa ended last year with.

Konsa said: “It is always nice when you play at home for the first game – we knew how good we were last season at home, so we want to continue that.

“Earlier on in the season last year we dropped some key points, but things happened. It is a new season, and we want to continue what we’re building here and continue growing.

“Same aim as last season: stay up there with the big buys. We want to get Champions League football again.

“We will focus on today’s game and take it game by game.”

This is the second time in the last three seasons Aston Villa and Newcastle have met in their opening league match of the season, with the Magpies winning 5-1 at St. James’ Park in 2023-24.

Newcastle have lost five of their last six Premier League away games against Aston Villa, with the exception being a 3-1 victory in January 2024.

A touch under an hour to go until kick off and the fans are flooding to Villa Park.

Aston Villa beat Newcastle 4-1 in April, but haven’t won consecutive Premier League games against the Magpies since completing the double over them in 2004-05.