4th February 2012

Newcastle vs Aston Villa Betting: Return of Demba Ba can inspire Newcastle to another home win

The opening match of this weekend’s Super Sunday comes from St James Park as Newcastle take on Aston Villa. Newcastle are riding high this season and Alan Pardew will hope his men can continue their impressive record in this match. A win for the Magpies will take them up level with Chelsea in fourth before the Blues play later in the day. Aston Villa will move into the top half of the table with a win.

All Newcastle fans will be relieved to see Demba Ba back from African Nations Cup duty and he could partner their January signing Papiss Demba Cisse in this match after he too returned from the tournament. Chieck Tiote is still away with the Ivory Coast though so he will miss this match and Newcastle will also be without Yohan Cabaye as the midfielder continues his suspension. Only Chelsea and West Brom have won at St James Park this season.

Villa can’t get a consistent run going this season but if they do then they should finish safely in the top half of the table. Villa come into the match off the back of a 2-2 draw with QPR where they came from 2-0 down. Gabby Agbonlahor missed that match with injury and is set to miss out again here. Mark Albrighton and James Collins will also miss out with injury. Robbie Keane continues his loan spell.

Newcastle are strong at home and whenever I’ve questioned them this season they have shown me to look a bit of a fool. I have another question about if they can cope without the midfield duo of Tiote and Cabaye but having won at Blackburn in midweek I guess they can. Newcastle are defensively solid enough and have sufficient threat up front that I think they will run out winners in this game.

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