I'm sitting on the sofa in my bedroom, lounging about as I do most of the time these days between calls and tasks, thinking about getting in the car and going into to watch football in the pub. It's 31 degrees outside and drinking a beer or two at the pub might be nice.
But that will mean me staying in town (it's a 45 minute drive) and that is an almost guarantee that if we put in the type of performance we did last time out and with a beer or three in me, the chances of me publishing a post later today that will be me frustrated, angry and very to the point, is probably very high.
But there is every chance we go out there with purpose to attack, play Newcastle off the pitch and win. I shouldn't think that I'm gong to be frustrated later, I must think that today is the day where we turn it around. So, this is a quick post before jumping in the car and heading into town.
It's quick also because there is little I can write that I haven't written before and you know it. We all know it, so I'll leave you with some match facts from the BBC.
Match facts from the BBC
Head-to-head
- Newcastle have gone 11 home games without defeat against Aston Villa in all competitions since a 3-0 loss in April 2005 (W7, D4).
- The Magpies' 10-match unbeaten Premier League run against Villa was ended by a 2-0 defeat in November's reverse fixture.
- Villa are looking to complete the Premier League double over Newcastle for the first time since 2004-05.
Newcastle United
- Newcastle are attempting to win three consecutive league matches for the first time since November 2018.
- Head coach Steve Bruce hasn't won three top-flight games in a row since January 2009, when his Wigan side earned four straight victories.
- The Magpies are unbeaten in four Premier League home games without conceding a goal (W2, D2).
- They can equal the club top-flight records of four successive clean sheets, and five in a row at home.
- Bruce's side can reach 40 points after 31 Premier League matches for the first time since 2013-14.
- Newcastle are winless in 18 Premier League matches played on a Wednesday since beating Chelsea in May 2012.
- Joelinton is vying to score in back-to-back league games for the first time since November 2018 for Hoffenheim.
Aston Villa
- Villa have taken a solitary point from their past six league fixtures, with their only win in nine coming at home to Watford on 21 January.
- They have won just two of their last 33 top-flight away games, beating Norwich in October and Burnley in January (D5, L26).
- The Villans are the only side yet to keep an away clean sheet in the Premier League this season.
- Dean Smith's side have conceded twice or more in 19 of their 30 matches, the joint most of any team along with Norwich.
- Aston Villa's 2-1 defeat against Chelsea was the fifth time this season they have scored first and lost in the Premier League, the most in the division.
Nothing on Bruce
And, some of you will be please to know, I didn't mention Steve Bruce. What do you think he'll be thinking today?