Newcastle United currently sit second in the Championship table having won five league games in a row while Aston Villa have won just one in seven.
Sky Sports pundit Ian Holloway has given his verdict on Championship promotion hopefuls Newcastle United and Aston Villa following their contrasting starts to the season.
United got off to a nervous start in the second tier having lost their first two matches but quickly found their feet and have won their past five matches, scoring 15 goals and conceding just one.
But Villa haven’t enjoyed the same amount of success as late opposition goals have cost them dearly so far as they’ve only managed to pick up one win from their opening seven games and sit 17th in the table.
Aston Villa players look dejected
And with both teams spending around £50m on new transfers during the summer, Holloway feels that the way Newcastle conducted their business has given them the advantage over the Villains.
“(Newcastle) got their squad together early enough whereas I don’t think Aston Villa did,” he told Sky Sports News HQ.
“It’s going to take (Villa) a little bit longer and every point is vital, let alone that because the competition is so tough in the Championship, it has been the last couple of years but this is the toughest season ever – it’s all that close.”
Newcastle United’s Ayoze Perez celebrates scoring their second goal with Yoan Gouffran
Holloway has achieved three promotions during his time as a manager and feels that the newly relegated teams can often struggle in the second tier, as Villa are finding out.
“Being one of the favourites is also a massive burden,” the former Crystal Palace manager continued.
“Because at home you have got to try and win all the time and Villa have found that very, very difficult.”
Roberto Di Matteo’s Aston Villa side will be hoping to pick up their second win of the season away to Ipswich Town at Portman Road this Saturday while Rafa Benitez’s Newcastle will look to continue their fine run of form at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers (3pm kick-off).
Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez before the match
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