Here they come. Any changes from Bruce?

'Which way are we shooting again?'

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Jack Grealish has eight assists in 17 Premier League games for Aston Villa this season, one more than in his previous 70 appearances in the competition, spanning four different seasons (7).

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As it stands Villa are five points behind Liverpool with two games in hand.

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Chris Waddle
Ex-Newcastle and England winger on BBC Radio 5 Live

Newcastle are one-paced, not enough energy or tempo. Villa break quickly, they have the legs and are willing to run in behind; so different from Newcastle - they are very comfortable in possession.

Steve has to be brave, go to a four, with a bit of energy and pace to create something. A lot of them are plodding, and they cannot close down.

Villa got beat by City but they played well, and they took a lot of belief from it.

The cameras are focused intently on Allan Saint-Maximin as the Newcastle subs all warm up. Get him on and change the shape?

It's a big ask.

Bertrand Traore has netted four goals in his last six Premier League games, while Newcastle have become the first side he's scored more than once against in the competition

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Alistair Magowan
BBC Sport at Villa Park

The general play of these two sides is evenly-matched, but the marked difference is the confidence in the opposition box.

Villa have a finely-tuned front four, where each player knows his job, shown by that goal. Newcastle, by contrast, look like strangers.

That was Jack Grealish's eighth assist of the season.

Villa are first to every second ball now, another free-kick is half cleared and Marvelous Nakamba has loads of time and space to run on and plant a half-volley wide.

Chris Waddle
Ex-Newcastle and England winger on BBC Radio 5 Live

Villa are not the most physical side, but they have some real technicians and not just Jack Grealish.

Lose tonight and Newcastle would be seven points ahead of Fulham in 18th, albeit with Fulham having a game in hand. It's still a tidy cushion isn't it?

Kris Jefferson: I mean this is just more of the same from Newcastle. No new plan, no new desire to get us out of this poor run, just slowly sleepwalking to relegation. A new manager is the only thing I can see to change that

Chris Waddle
Ex-Newcastle and England winger on BBC Radio 5 Live

A brilliant, top drawer goal. Bertrand Traore, a lovely give and go, then Jack Grealish gets it back to him and a fantastic finish off the crossbar.

Newcastle, and Andy Carroll in particular, were not happy and felt that Karl Darlow was fouled as he punched that corner out but nobody is listening.

Villa then go close again as Douglas Luiz shoots wide.

This keep the flag down nonsense is exactly that isn't it? Rubbish.

Andy Carroll competes for a header with Emi Martinez but the Villa keeper does well, punching it out and then getting the free-kick anyway.

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Alistair Magowan
BBC Sport at Villa Park

Ollie Watkins did a six-yard knee slide to celebrate that 'goal' which looked offside from where the media are sat. But heavens alive, delaying the flag is a killjoy's dream, isn't it?

A finely-poised game, this one.

Andy Brown: Pretty sure Andy Carroll couldn’t finish a cup of tea right now