Aston Villa, along with Leeds and Newcastle, are interested in James Trafford of Manchester City, who would prefer to send the 23-year-old goalkeeper out on loan rather than sell this summer. (Teamtalk), external
Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column
We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's FA Cup game between Aston Villa and Newcastle.
Here are some of your comments:
Aston Villa fans
Matthew: Given the injury crisis Villa are facing and the number of changes Emery made, there are a lot of positives in the way we played for much of the match. But the number of gilt-edged opportunities we're gifting the opposition is a real concern - especially when our game plan relies on defensive solidity and exceeding our very low xG values.
Paul: We shot ourselves in the foot twice. Firstly, with the sending off and secondly, with the lazy play for the third Newcastle goal. We're really starting to feel the absence of McGinn, Tielemans and Kamara. With them on the pitch, it becomes comfortable. Worried our season will start to fizzle out now if we're not careful.
Keith: Memo to Mr Emery: Please tell your defenders to stop trying to play keep-ball in their third of the pitch. It inevitably leads to disaster, as shown by the third goal from Newcastle. Too many goals have been conceded this way. Are we to miss out on a Champions League place on goal difference again?
Gavin: A moment of madness changed the game. But only slightly disappointed, as we've got bigger fish to fry - top five and the Europa please, Unai.
Newcastle fans
Geoff: Excellent discipline from Newcastle. Away from home and playing a top team they ran Villa ragged. They looked sharp. They were full of running. This display and midweek against Spurs has put the away hoodoo to bed. Trippier didn't look so sharp but the others were really active and gave us a fine win.
George: Much better in last two away games. Woltemade needs to keep up front and not come deep into midfield. Gets in the box and hey presto... goal. Osula up front needs balls played over defence to run on to, not to feet. Defence much better with Big Dan Burn in it. Tonali must be kept out of the clutches of other clubs. With no Bruno, he is crucial to our defence and attack.
Liam: To come away with the win - despite still playing against 13 men in the second half - is a massive result. It's probably worth us focusing on the cup now, with our league form so patchy. Watch us get City, Arsenal or Liverpool, away, in the next round...
Ken: To keep calm after linesman and referee clangers they must be applauded for a master class of very good football and a much deserved win.
Dale Johnson
Football issues correspondent
Tammy Abraham's opener
A marginal VAR offside decision caused a fair amount of controversy for Newcastle in midweek. Joe Willock had a goal disallowed at Tottenham when the semi-automated technology said his forehead was offside.
Abraham's goal was the kind of decision the video review was brought in for - the real howlers.
The Villa striker was clearly ahead of the defence when Douglas Luiz played the free-kick. With VAR, the goal would have been ruled out.
It would be easy to blame switching between systems as a defence for the assistant, Nick Greenhalgh. But with or without VAR, he would be expected to raise his flag if he's identified an offside.
Should Digne have been sent off?
Would the VAR have stepped in to show a red card to Digne for serious foul play with his late challenge on Jacob Murphy? It is far from certain from what we have seen in the Premier League.
We often hear the VAR has referenced glancing contact to uphold the decison of a yellow card. See Diogo Dalot's challenge on Jeremy Doku in the Manchester derby last month.
Digne did come in at some speed and that would have increased the chance of being sent off on review.
Yet the Frenchman did not push through on to the shin of the Newcastle player. That his foot came off quickly probably would have saved him.
It may well have been one of those where the on-field decision would have stood, whether it was yellow or red card.
Bizot's red card
Serious foul play or denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity (Dogso)?
Really, this incident could have been either. After all, Bizot brought down Murphy with a knee-high challenge - although it was not with studs leading.
When the Dutch goalkeeper fouled the Newcastle forward, the Magpies were left with three attackers up against only Luiz, although Dogso could only be applied to the player fouled.
The VAR would have taken into account the general run of the ball was not towards goal. They would also consider if Luiz would have been able to get across to prevent the shot.
You can make a case for a degree of doubt for Dogso. But much like the Digne decision it is one which would likely have stayed with the on-field decision.
Read more analysis on the officiating in Aston Villa v Newcastle here
Pundits Ellen White and Shay Given join host Alex Scott to bring you the action and talking points from Friday and Saturday's FA Cup ties.
And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:
Ciaran Kelly
Football reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesUnai Emery could not have made himself clearer.
With 1957 being the last time they won the competition, the Villa manager was well aware of how "important" the FA Cup was to the club's supporters, but stressed "we have a clear order in our priorities".
"As I always said, the Premier League is the most important competition," he wrote in his programme notes before the Newcastle defeat.
Perhaps, then, it was not a surprise Emery made seven changes to his side for this game - one more than Newcastle - and handed Ross Barkley and Leon Bailey - recalled from his loan at Roma - their first starts of the season.
Yet his much-changed side were well-placed to progress until Marco Bizot's rush of blood, and Emery will still take positives from aspects of this display.
Not least Abraham's first goal since his return.
Although he was offside, his strike followed a clever set-piece routine after Morgan Rogers shaped up to shoot only for Luiz to clip the ball into the box for Tammy Abraham to chest down and fire into the net.
How Emery will hope it is the first of many to ease the burden on fellow centre-forward Ollie Watkins.
Villa may have exited the FA Cup, but Emery's team can still end their 30-year wait for a major trophy in the Europa League and are third in the Premier League, with a place in next season's Champions League the target.
It is all set up to be a season to remember.
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery: "To win a trophy is very difficult. To get it is through matches like today and with the circumstances like today that we had. How we competed today was really fantastic. Today, we played 45 minutes really good and how we were planning the match. With the red card, it became more difficult in the second half. We tried to compete. We tried to get our structure still working with one less playing and we competed but it was not enough because they had the power and they showed it and came with the result."
On the red card: "I accept it like some things can happen."
On whether Marco Bizot has said anything in the dressing room: "No. Nothing to complain. We made these mistakes but it was for all of us. Not just for the goalkeeper or Leon. We must get experience to try and correct it and to get better for the next decision that we will face."
On Tammy Abraham scoring: "Very good. I think overall the energy, we showed a good energy and the supporters were shouting with us as well. A good mood in first 45 minutes and even in the second half. We accept it. Analyse it. Get the spaces that we have and keep going with the motivation that have to face."
On still having the Premier League and Europa League to compete for: "The Europa League is important. Very important. We can get a trophy. It is going to be very difficult, but we are very motivated. The Premier League is the priority. We are really fantastic in the table. We must be so proud of where we are in the table and everything we are doing. We have to focus and strongly prepare for each game."
Aston Villa striker Tammy Abraham speaking after the game: "Difficult result to take, I'm proud of my team, we dug deep and gave them a tough game. We know they have qualities to create chances. When the first goal went in, the heads go down. Being a man down is always difficult.
"I'm proud of the boys and we must keep going. We have to keep believing in ourselves we, are still in the Europa League and in a good position in the Premier League."
On scoring his first goal since returning to Villa: "It means everything, as a striker you always want to score goals. I got unlucky in my first game with the goal ruled out. I'm always delighted to score. It's good to be back."
Did you know?
Tammy Abraham netted his first goal for Aston Villa since May 2019 against West Bromwich Albion in the Championship play-offs, while he has scored five goals across his last three FA Cup appearances.
Aston Villa have lost three of their last five home games in all competitions, as many defeats as they suffered in their previous 43 on home soil (won 30, drew 10). Meanwhile, this was their first home defeat in the FA Cup since February 2024 vs Chelsea (1-3 in the fourth round replay).
You can listen to Unai Emery speaking after the game on BBC Sounds
Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.
What did you make of Aston Villa's performance?
What did you learn from Newcastle United's display?
Come back on Monday for a selection of your replies
Image source, BBC SportAston Villa XI: Bizot, Bogarde, Lindelof, Torres, Digne, Luiz, Onana, Rogers, Barkley, Bailey, Abraham
Subs: Martinez, Konsa, Mings, Watkins, Garcia, Buendia, Sancho, Maatsen, Kone
Newcastle XI: Ramsdale, Trippier, Thiaw, Burn, Hall, Tonali, Ramsey, Murphy, Woltemade, Barnes, Osula,
Subs: Pope, Ruddy, Gordon, Elanga, Willock, A.Murphy, Shahar, Seung-soo, Neave
Image source, BBC Sport
There are seven ties in the FA Cup fourth round on Saturday, and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.
Burton v West Ham (12:15) - BBC Radio 5 Live & BBC Radio Derby
Burnley v Mansfield - BBC Radio Lancashire & BBC Radio Nottingham
Man City v Salford - BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 3 & BBC Radio Manchester
Norwich v West Brom - BBC Radio Norfolk & BBC Radio WM
Port Vale P-P Bristol City
Southampton v Leicester- BBC Radio Solent & BBC Radio Leicester
Aston Villa v Newcastle (17:45) - BBC iPlayer, BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra (with second half on BBC Radio 5 Live), BBC Radio WM & BBC Radio Newcastle
Liverpool v Brighton (20:00) - BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Radio Merseyside & BBC Radio Sussex
Kick-offs 15:00 GMT unless stated
Follow all of the action and reaction here
You can also listen to today's 5 Live commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Burton v West Ham" of "ask BBC Sounds to play Liverpool v Brighton", for instance.
Find out more about how to listen to football on BBC Sounds
How to follow the FA Cup fourth round on the BBC
I was delighted for Newcastle boss Eddie Howe that his team beat Tottenham and also the reception he got from his side's fans afterwards.
For everything he has done for them, the world must have gone bonkers for their fans to be calling up 606 and saying they wanted him out.
This will be a very different test to playing Spurs, however, and I am going with my gut feeling on this one.
The two sides met recently, when Villa won at St James' Park at the end of January and although Villa have slipped up a couple of times at home recently, when it clicks for them, they usually end up winning.
Sutton's prediction: 2-1
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has been speaking to the media before Saturday's FA Cup fourth round tie against Newcastle United at Villa Park (kick-off 17:45 GMT).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Emery praised his players for being "versatile" in operating in different positions to help the club through a spell of several injuries.
He explained the transfer window has at least offered him "different possibilities" despite the injuries.
Emery said: "Lamare Bogarde, for example, is a very good possibility and is getting good performance with us. He was here when I arrived here, in the academy, training with us. Now, how he is performing and playing as a right full-back - marking Kaoru Mitoma - and as a midfielder."
The Spaniard offered positive tones on the "consistency" of Amadou Onana and contribution of Ross Barkley, citing the work of such players as reason as to why Villa "have enough players".
On Douglas Luiz, Emery said: "He left from here one-and-a-half years ago. He didn't play a lot in Juventus and Nottingham Forest. Coming here, I said to him, 'you must recover, remember everything we are doing here, you were performing so, so good'. We are doing it. The three matches he played, the last one on Wednesday, he played a good match."
On 19-year-old winger Alysson, who joined the club in January from Brazilian side Gremio, Emery said: "He is a winger, left foot, plays normally in the right side. He has qualities or skills like a Leon Bailey. He has a huge potential. His adaptation has been progressing better but he needed time and he's still needing time to adapt to us and get his best performances."
Listen to Aston Villa v Newcastle on 5 Live Sports Extra here
Image source, Getty ImagesRecently, Liverpool and the Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk said former players-turned-pundits have a responsibility when discussing the performances of the current generation of footballers.
He believes they can stray into "clickbait" and have a possible impact on players' mental health.
On Thursday's episode of the More than the Score podcast, former Scotland international Pat Nevin and chief sports editor for Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf Marcel van der Kraan join John Bennett to discuss and analyse the modern world of punditry and the impact it can have on players and managers alike.
"As a player you do tend to take it to heart, especially when it feels a little personal," said Nevin.
"Generally, it isn't personal and the pundit is just having their opinion and we all kind of know where the lines are. But, the lines have been jumped over more often in recent years and I think Van Dijk is right about that.
"Because of the clickbait, it is so much easier to get more likes, views and work if you're a little bit more extreme. Ex-players aren't stupid and they know that. If you are too sensible and sit on the fence you won't get the big gigs.
"You have a dichotomy. Most ex-players would like to be balanced but they know if they are too balanced and sensible they won't be there next week.
"My criticism would always be constructive criticism which is explained. One-dimensional labeling of players should never happen. Sometimes if a big name says something enough it becomes accepted wisdom."
Van der Kraan added: "There are two different kinds of pundits; those who need to be on every week and those who are genuinely focused on what is right and what players should do.
"For Van Dijk, after so many years enough is enough.
"It all started after he came into the Netherlands team and became a big player at Liverpool. The first ex-player to really criticise him was Marco van Basten, saying he was not a leader. Van Dijk was biting his lip after every match because it became a bit of a stigma.
"Eventually it filtered to England and every time he had a bad game it became an open nerve."
Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds
Mike Taylor
BBC Radio WM reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesCometh the hour, cometh the own goal.
It really doesn't matter that the game against Brighton was messy, or Aston Villa found it difficult to generate much momentum for long periods, or even - though it would have been appropriate - that Tyrone Mings, in a landmark 200th appearance for the club, does not have his name on the goal itself. Entertaining your paying spectators is important over time, but last night the result was everything.
"We needed to get three points," said Unai Emery. "The process to get three points is very important, and today it was competing more than playing and dominating a lot... Always we were trying to get something to win. Set-pieces was another way to try to get it, and we did it."
Mings has all the qualities demanded for this moment. Now in his seventh season with Villa, injuries and the gradual upgrading of the squad in recent years have seen him become less involved on the field, but his standing within the club overall is undiminished. In the absence of John McGinn in particular, his personal skills at tense times become especially important.
"All the time he's played [for Villa], he's always looked like a leader," said BBC Radio WM's Villa summariser Garry Thompson after Wednesday's game.
"He's made the odd mistake but he never lets it get to him... A proper leader, and he got the goal Villa needed. Horrible game, great result, move on."
The injuries to McGinn, Youri Tielemans and Boubacar Kamara have clearly put the squad under strain since the start of the year. After the extraordinary period before Christmas when Villa were in full flood, their recent performances have begun to meander, especially at home.
But Emery refuses to accept invitations to feel sorry on behalf of his team. Asked after Wednesday's victory whether those injuries were affecting Villa's ability to break through opponents, he adopted the strong, slow tone of a headmaster.
"Keep calm. Today, fantastic job Douglas Luiz. Today, fantastic job Onana, Ross Barkley adding minutes, Lindelof playing as well as a midfielder and helping us, and Lamare Bogarde" – special emphasis – "FAN-TAS-TIC when replacing today Cash. THIS is the new." So there.
"He's leaving them with no option for an excuse," says Thompson. "What we've got is good enough to compete in games, and if we compete in games we've got a chance of winning the game... We've lost two out of three players who would get into most Premier League sides and we've still had to find a way." They did, and for now, that's good enough.
Listen to full commentary of Aston Villa v Newcastle at 17:45 GMT on Saturday on BBC Radio WM
And tune into The West Midlands Football Phone-In from 18:00 on weeknights
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We asked for your views after Aston Villa's Premier League win over Brighton.
Here are some of your comments:
Aston Villa fans
Sacha: Not pretty to watch and a lot of misplaced passes, however at the moment with the injuries we have and trying to get back to winning ways at home - three points was all that mattered and a bit of breathing room over the chasing pack!
Johnny: Without Tielemans, Kamara and McGinn - among the best central midfield pack in the division - we look pretty ordinary. Until they return we are just going to have to grind out results.
Paul: We won but not a pleasing performance. Martinez is an amazing shot stopper.
Martyn: Today's performance is another reality check - the fact is our squad just isn't good enough to maintain our lofty position and the big boys are about to take over the top spots. Fifth place is now a realistic target which might be vital to retain the services of Mr Emery.
Brighton fans
David: Every time Brighton make a late substitution the opposition seem to nick the points. Were the substitutions really necessary?
Malcolm: A much better performance by most of the players but still tactically inept and in serious need of a striker who knows where the net is. Serious danger of relegation and need a change in coaching staff now, not at the end of the season. Bring back Roberto de Zerbi.
Joe: A step in the right direction. The recent run of one win in 13 has been awful. A lot of the questions being asked about Hurzeler are valid but this was a performance that inspires some hope he might be able to turn it around. Overall, I felt we were unlucky to come away from the game with nothing.
Oliver: I don't want us to become a team that sacks their manager at the first dry period. I like the team and we're losing/drawing by fine margins. I can still see us finishing top 10.
Image source, Getty ImagesIt was 10 November 2002 when 16-year-old James Milner made his first Premier League appearance for Leeds United.
Milner came off the bench to replace Jason Wilcox in a 4-3 win at West Ham.
What else was going on in the world in November 2002?
Number one singles in the UK around that time included "Heaven" by DJ Sammy and Yanou featuring Do and "Unbreakable" by Westlife.
On television, ITV talent show Popstars: The Rivals was approaching its conclusion (whatever happened to One True Voice?) while series two of The Office had just ended - would a tearful David Brent avoid being made redundant from his job at Wernham Hogg?
"Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" and "Die Another Day" were released in UK cinemas.
Manchester City goalkeeper James Trafford was a month old, while former US Open tennis champion Emma Raducanu was born three days after Milner's senior debut.
James Milner now holds the all-time record for the most Premier League appearances.
The former England international, 40, made his 654th Premier League outing in Wednesday's defeat at former club Aston Villa - which took him past the previous mark set by Gareth Barry.
Milner made his debut for Leeds in November 2002 as a 16-year-old and became the Premier League's youngest-ever goalscorer before the end of that year.
He featured regularly at first-team level from then on, but his time at Elland Road came to an end when Leeds, in deep financial trouble at the time, were relegated from the top flight in 2004.
Image source, Getty ImagesMilner was contracted to Newcastle for four years, although he spent the 2005-06 campaign on loan at Aston Villa and nearly joined them full-time in the summer of 2006.
That move to Villa Park would eventually happen in 2008.
Image source, Getty ImagesMilner was a key part of a Villa side that narrowly missed out on silverware and Champions League qualification under Martin O'Neill.
He scored the opening goal in Villa's 2010 League Cup final loss to Manchester United.
Image source, Getty ImagesMilner moved to Manchester City in the early weeks of the 2010-11 season and won numerous honours during his five seasons with the club, including two Premier League titles and one FA Cup.
Image source, Getty ImagesMilner swapped City for Liverpool on a free transfer in the summer of 2015 and spent eight seasons with the Reds.
While at Anfield, he won all three major domestic trophies and the Champions League in 2019.
Milner played more Premier League games for Liverpool (230) than any of the other top-flight clubs he has represented.
Image source, Getty ImagesMilner has been with Brighton since 2023, appearing in the Seagulls' first-ever European campaign in 2023-24.
He recently joined a select band of outfield players to have made a Premier League appearance after their 40th birthday and is more than seven years older than his current boss Fabian Hurzeler.
Image source, Getty ImagesNick Mashiter
Football reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesAston Villa found a way to win. It was not pretty and it was probably not deserved, but they pinched three precious points against Brighton.
A composed and controlled 2-0 win at Newcastle last month was arguably their best display of the campaign, coming after losing Boubacar Kamara for the season and seeing Youri Tielemans limp off at St James' Park.
Since then they have recovered from 2-0 down to beat Red Bull Salzburg in the Europa League - a collapse from the Austrians rather than a rousing comeback - lost to 10-man Brentford and drawn at Bournemouth.
The level of performance from Emery's side has noticeably dropped - understandable given injuries to key players- but they have still got the job done.
Villa were poor, sloppy and lacked inspiration from the usual sources of Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins on Wednesday - but few would ever back against them digging out a win from virtually nothing.
In the race for the Champions League places, this victory was much needed, and supporters will not be debating the performance levels of mid-February in the summer if Villa return to Europe's elite next season.
They needed a win after recent results - having lost their previous two home league games - and they got it. Just.
Aston Villa are interested in Nottingham Forest's England midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White, but Forest could command a fee of £65m for the 26-year-old. (TeamTalk), external
Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column
Pundits Alan Shearer and Danny Murphy join host Kelly Somers to bring you the action and talking points from Tuesday's and Wednesday's Premier League fixtures.
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "Very important. We needed to win and compete and respect them like we did.
"The match was tight and for 90 minutes equal in some ways but I think we created the most chances and more times we got into their box.
"We much recovered energy confidence and after we lost our last two matches in the Premier League we needed this victory.
"We now need to put this competition to the back of our minds until we play again in ten days against Leeds. Now we try to focus on the FA Cup on Saturday."
Did you know?
Aston Villa have won nine of their 14 Premier League games against Brighton (D3 L2), and since their return to the top-flight in 2019 boast their joint-most wins versus the Seagulls (also 9 vs Everton).
Villa have scored eight goals from corners in the Premier League this season with only Arsenal (14), Tottenham (13) and Chelsea (9) netting more.
