Newcastle United host Aston Villa on 20th February in the 2016-17 campaign of Sky Bet Championship at St. James’ Park. Both the teams were demoted to the second tier after getting relegated from the Premier League last term, owing to their absolutely shambolic displays. Though Rafael Benitez would look to leapfrog Brighton & Hove Albion to reclaim the top spot, Steve Bruce is more of a worried man as his side are yet to earn a win in 2017. Here are three key battles which could decide the outcome of this highly anticipated fixture that takes place on Monday.
Dwight Gayle vs. Nathan Baker
Dwight Gayle was Benitez’s before injury came to halt the striker’s progress but now that he is available, there is very little doubt on the perception that he would get a nod over Aleksandar Mitrovic up front. The 26-year-old has had a stupendous campaign, scoring 20 goals in 23 appearances for the white and striped outfit and would pose trouble for Aston Villa defence.
Nathan Baker will have to endure a nightmarish-looking outing away from home as a fighter in the shape of Gayle. The central defender would have to command his backline to stick to the basics, be very compact and he himself will be entrusted with the responsibility of marking Gayle to silent him from doing the damage.
Jamaal Lascelles vs. Scott Hogan
Scott Hogan might not have had a fairytale like start ever since his move to the Villa Park in the January transfer window, which means that something spectacular is overdue from the hitman and could be unleashed against Newcastle United. The Magpies have been resilient and rigid at the back this time around, and a major chunk of courtesy for the same goes to the fine form of their skipper Jamaal Lascelles at the heart of their defence. The battle between Newcastle United’s centre-back and Aston Villa’s striker could be a see-saw battle as both are pretty good at what they do.
DeAndre Yedlin vs. Jordan Amavi
DeAndre Yedlin is one of the most potent full-backs which Championship has on offer. The former Sunderland right-back loves to jet forward and tries to put the opponents on the back foot with his surging runs down the flanks. Most importantly, he keeps a decent balance between his offensive and defensive endeavours but with someone like Jordan Amavi battling it out with Yedlin, expect a more cagey approach.
Statistics Credits: Squawka.
