The Magpies secured a 1-1 draw against their Championship rivals at the weekend.
Newcastle’s Matt Ritchie in action with Aston Villa’s Jordan Amavi
Matt Ritchie has suggested to the Chronicle that the electric atmosphere during the second-half of Newcastle United’s clash with Aston Villa at the weekend proves that the Magpies are the team everyone wants to beat this season.
Rafael Benitez’s men took a first-half lead through a Tommy Elphick own goal but ultimately had to settle for a point as Aaron Tshibola’s late equaliser ensured that the game ended in a draw.
Aston Villa’s Aaron Tshibola scores the equaliser
And while the away side may have left Villa Park with a negative feeling, Ritchie explained that the mood inside the ground showed how revered the team actually are by their rivals.
“Villa took a point off us and the atmosphere was electric in the second half,” he said, as reported by the Chronicle.
“It just shows we are the team to beat.”
It is hardly surprising if most sides consider Newcastle to be a major scalp, even those that came down with them from the Premier League last season.
Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez
As well as the stature of the club, they also boast a Champions League-winning manager at the helm and brought several players over the summer that boast plenty of top flight experience, so would rightfully be considered to be one of the favourites for promotion.
And if the players can handle that expectation, it appears that they have everything they need to get back to the highest level at the first opportunity.
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