Aston Villa host Newcastle United in the Championship this evening…
Aston Villa starting line-up: Gollini; Chester, Elphick, Baker; Bacuna, Jedinak, Westwood, Amavi; Adomah, Ayew, Kodjia.
Aston Villa substitutes: Bunn, Richards, Tshibola, Gestede, Hutton, Cissokho, Hepburn-Murphy.
Newcastle United starting line-up: Sels; Yedlin, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett; Ritchie, Shelvey, Hayden, Gouffran; Diame; Gayle.
Newcastle United substitutes: Darlow, Lazaar, Hanley, Tiore, Atsu, Perez, Mitrovic.
Aston Villa and Newcastle United lock horns at Villa Park this evening as they both look to win promotion back to the Premier League this season.
Villa have endured a tough start to the season, winning just one of their first eight Championship games – but they’ve also only lost one of their last six.
Roberto Di Matteo’s side drew 0-0 with Ipswich Town last night out, and the Italian has again gone with three at the back as James Chester, Tommy Elphick and Nathan Baker start.
Leandro Bacuna and Jordan Amavi play as wing backs, with Albert Adomah making his first start in a dangerous attack alongside Andre Ayew and Jonathan Kodjia.
The likes of Micah Richards, Aaron Tshibola, Rudy Gestede and Rushian Hepburn-Murphy are all on the bench in a strong Villa side this evening.
Meanwhile, Newcastle’s five-game winning run came to an end with a defeat at home to Wolves last weekend, and they must now respond to keep in touch with the automatic promotion places.
Manager Rafael Benitez has handed a start to defender Ciaran Clark, who joined the club from Villa over the summer, meaning he makes his first return to his former home.
In-form wingers Matt Ritchie and Yoan Gouffran both start, with Mohamed Diame supporting Dwight Gayle in attack, whilst DeAndre Yedlin starts at right back.
Summer signings Achraf Lazaar, Grant Hanley and Christian Atsu are all on the bench, alongside Ayoze Perez, Aleksandar Mitrovic and forgotten man Cheick Tiote.
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