Two sides in need of a win lock horns in the Premier League this weekend as Newcastle United take on Aston Villa.
The Magpies are currently 11th in the Premier League with eight points from six games. It's been an up-and-down campaign for the Magpies who, after a good start, have started to falter slightly.
Newcastle come into this game with only one win from their last four in the league, with two of their last three games being 4-1 defeats away from home, first to Newcastle United and then to Coventry in their most recent game.
Performances in those defeats were quite concerning, with the team looking extremely frail defensively. Having conceded an average of 1.88xGA per game, the underlying data suggests Newcastle's defence is currently the shakiest in the league.
Aston Villa, meanwhile, are 16th in the league with five points from six games. Unai Emery's side are still finding their feet after a summer filled with major squad turnover, but the signs are that they're now in the ascendency.
Villa's last four games in all competitions have produced three wins and one draw, with their most recent game a thumping 6-0 win over Fenerbahce in the Champions League.
It was always going to take Villa a while to get going given how new their squad composition is, but seems like things are starting to click.
They have a decent record against Newcastle of late, winning two of the last three head-to-head meetings, so they'll be confident about picking up another win against a side in a tricky situation.
Over 2.5 goals have been scored in four of Newcastle's last five games and in all of Villa's last five so we expect this one to be an entertaining affair, but it's one we think the visitors might sneak.
Newcastle 1-2 Aston Villa
