Newcastle in the FA Cup at Villa Park and match facts from the BBC

It's FA Cup Saturday and we're playing Newcastle and that sort of makes it feel like a regular Saturday and not as interesting. But it is the FA Cup and it's a route to silverware, so there has to be some optimism and a part of me is excited because of that.

However, another part of me puts the FA Cup in bottom place of what is important right now and if we were to go out today, it would probably increase our chances in the other two, and that part of me sort of thinks that would be a good thing.

The hidden and not often aware of what's going on third part of me wants us to go all the way in this tournament and thinks playing twice a week is what we should expect and if we can't compete on three fronts with the players we have, we're not ready.

And the FA Cup is special and it should be respected. So, it's Newcastle later today and we should want to proceed in this tournament so I expect us to approach it that way. 

I also expect to see a change or two, but we are used to seeing that now. And as I wrote recently, it will take time for the two new players to get caught up, but there are others also. And I think if we approach today in the way we all know we can, we can expect to see our names in the hat for the next round.

That written, this competition is the best chance Newcastle have this season and because of that, they'll be up for this match. I'm expecting a good game. And as always, I'll take a scrappy 1-0 if it means progressing. Back a little later.

Match facts from the BBC

• Aston Villa have knocked Newcastle out four times from the FA Cup (1894-95, 1896-97, 1904-05, 2000-01), losing the other two ties in the 1923-24 final and third round in 1951-52.

• In five of the previous six seasons Aston Villa and Newcastle have met in the FA Cup, either Villa (1895, 1897, 1905, 1924) or Newcastle (1905, 1924, 1952) have reached the final that year, with two of those seasons seeing the sides meet in the final (1904-05 and 1923-24).

• Aston Villa knocked out Spurs in the FA Cup fourth round last season but haven’t gone beyond this stage in consecutive seasons since doing so between 2008-09 and 2010-11.

• Newcastle United have won six of their last 11 away games in the FA Cup (D2 L3), having gone 15 without a win on the road beforehand. The Magpies have lost 10 of their last 13 away from home at Premier League opponents, however (W2 D1), failing to score in eight of their last nine.

• Morgan Rogers has been involved in four goals in five FA Cup starts for Aston Villa (3 goals, 1 assist), scoring in their third round win over Spurs this season, while he scored and assisted against Spurs in last season’s fourth round.