Newcastle, Aston Villa, both or Neither and why?

Midweek EPL action brought together two of the biggest names in English football, as Newcastle and Aston Villa battled at the wrong end of the table.

Battling to avoid relegation.

Both teams are knee-deep in the relegation struggle. Villa came into the game 4th from bottom with Newcastle only one point better. In a must win game for both teams, Newcastle certainly started on the front foot, applying the pressure and taking control of the proceedings, dominating the game.

They were rewarded by going up 1-0 as new signing Sissoko set up Cisse with a slide rule pass that Cisse dispatched neatly.

Cabeye scored midway through the half, with a sweet 25 yard volley, that again hi lighted the dominance that Newcastle had shown. In spells, poor Villa were a complete shambles, chasing Newcastle shadows in midfield unable to make a contest of it.

At halftime Villa coach, Paul Lambert made tactical and substitution changes and the results were Instant. The second have Villa looked a completely different team and put in a spirited and determined effort. They brought one goal back on a penalty by Christian Benteke, bu that was all they could muster.

A good three points Newcastle. For Villa, the grim reality is that Villa have now dropped into the bottom three for the third time this season, and have taken only two points from their last seven games.

It’s looking bleak for one of England’s great clubs.