FA Cup: Villa and Newcastle are Looking for a Cup of Cheer

Aston Villa vs Newcastle United

Aston Villa and Newcastle United have an FA Cup fifth-round place in mind when they meet at Villa Park on Saturday in an all-Premier League clash to whet the appetite. 

Both clubs have high expectations. They have pressure in the league, Unai Emery’s Villa are striving to keep hold of a top-four place while Eddie Howe’s Newcastle have been on a poor run which has left them down in tenth position in the Premier League table, and the Magpies’ demanding owners and fans expect better. In Europe the two teams are well involved, Villa finished second in the Europa League table while the Magpies have earned a seeded knockout play-off place in the Champions League. 

They have won the FA Cup 13 times between them but neither Aston Villa or Newcastle have lifted the famous old trophy since the 1950s and their fans would love nothing more than a cup win in May.       

Both teams were in action in midweek; Emery’s Villa welcomed Brighton and Hove Albion for a Premier League clash on Wednesday and picked up a 1-0 win. 

24 hours earlier Eddie Howe’s Newcastle finally ended a five‑game winless run with a 2‑1 away victory at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium — a result that proved decisive, as Spurs manager Thomas Frank was dismissed in the aftermath.

 

Talking Points

Emi and Morgan are Villa’s Jewels

After coming so close to earning Champions League football last term the Villans are desperate to make the top competition in 2026 and, after a slow start to the campaign, they have been in superb form. But, while leaders Arsenal and Manchester City have big goal differences of plus 32 and 27, at plus 9 Emery’s team have clearly come out on the right side of plenty of one-goal wins. 

The expected goals statistics are good for a debate but often they mean very little in terms of results as Villa are proving, but it does mean you need reliable match-winners at either end of the pitch. Keeper Emiliano Martinez, a World Cup winner with Argentina is one of the most charismatic and talented stoppers in the game; and, in a 1-1 draw against Bournemouth last weekend he made seven saves to earn Villa a point. Meanwhile, at the other end of the pitch attacking midfielder Morgan Rogers scored a lovely goal to make it eight for the campaign to go with his five assists. 

Any club which sits in the top four cannot be a two-man team and there is quality running through this group but, with such a reliance on fine margins, both Martinez and Rogers are vital to Villa’s success.              

 

Geordies stop the rot

Newcastle have endured a terrible run of form and, while Howe has had transfer constraints and injuries to cope with, it was a mighty relief to pick up a win in North London on Tuesday. The Magpies’ clash with the Bees last week was a messy game to lose as, in front of their own fans, they went 2-1 down before levelling and eventually losing the game to a late Brentford goal. 

But the Geordies picked themselves up against another team under pressure and they took the game to Spurs; Joe Willock had a goal ruled out for offside by a matter of millimetres from the visuals. Malick Thiaw did give Newcastle a lead and when Tottenham equalised the Magpies hit back again through Jacob Ramsey. With 21 shots to 16 and five to two on target it was a well-earned win, and now Howe asks for consistency from his players going forward. 

Sandro Tonali started on the bench against Spurs but he may renew his midfield partnership with skipper Bruno Guimaraes, while Anthony Gordon and Harvey Barnes are likely to continue on the flanks. But Howe has a decision to make up front where he will decide between the height, strength and finishing skills of Nick Woltemade or stick with the electric pace of Anthony Elanga.           

 

History 

These two clubs are FA Cup royalty…or were, some time ago. Aston Villa have won the competition seven times, between 1887 and 1957, though they did make the final as recently as 2015. Newcastle have won the FA Cup six times, between 1910 and 1955 and the Magpies haven’t made the final since 1999.     

With 24 wins to 14 the Geordies have had the better of the Villans in their head to head encounters, though the tables are turned in Birmingham where Aston Villa have won 11 to seven, and Unai Emery’s side took a 2-0 victory away from St James’ Park last month as Emiliano Buendia and Ollie Watkins got on the score sheet. 

In terms of recent form Villa have won four, drawn one and lost two of the last seven games in all competitions, while Newcastle have won two, drawn one and lost four       

 

Betting Tip

The current FA Cup 2026 betting odds make Villa and Newcastle fifth and sixth favourites to lift the trophy and the winners will surely expect to go deep into the competition.   

The Villans are the SBOTOP favourites to win this tie, in normal time, at 2.15, with the visitors priced at 3.05 and, having picked up a win on the road on Tuesday, Howe’s men will have the confidence to pick up another result on Saturday; but I think an away win is a stretch too far.

   

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