Two of the most in-form teams in the Premier League will face each other this weekend. With both Newcastle and Aston Villa fighting for a place in Europe next season, the 171st meeting between the two looks set to be an interesting affair.
Unai Emery and Eddie Howe have both enjoyed fine seasons, with the former almost getting the Newcastle job before it was offered to the latter back in 2021.
Chronicle Live has taken a look at some of the most memorable clashes between the two sides in recent years.
READ HERE: Mark Lawrenson hits out at Newcastle and claims they are ‘taking the fun away’ from football
Newcastle 4-3 Aston Villa, September 1996
After the disappointment of losing the title in the 1995/96 season, Kevin Keegan’s men enjoyed a strong start to the following campaign with a fifth successive victory in a seven-goal thriller at St James’ Park.
Goals from Les Ferdinand, Alan Shearer and Steve Howey helped the Magpies to overcome a Dwight Yorke hat-trick.
Newcastle 3-0 Aston Villa, November 2001
Shearer once again showed his best qualities when he latched onto the end of a Rob Lee cross and scored a beauty of a volley against the legendary Peter Schmeichel.
Although he would go on to register 23 Premier League goals for the season, none were more memorable than this incredible strike.
Newcastle 0-3 Aston Villa, April 2005
Perhaps one of the most iconic moments of the Premier League, not just this fixture, occurred towards the backend of the 2004/05 season.
Newcastle were 3-0 down at St James’ Park having already had Steven Taylor sent off. Tensions were high amongst the players and just two minutes after Villa had extended their lead to 3-0, teammates Kieron Dyer and Lee Bowyer had broken out into a fight.
It was a surreal moment for anyone involved and remains one of the most infamous moments in football history to this day.
Aston Villa 1-0 Newcastle, May 2009
Newcastle had needed to win their final game of the season to remain in the Premier League. But with Alan Shearer at the helm, the Magpies joined Middlesbrough and West Brom in the second division.
A first-half own goal from Damien Duff was enough to seal relegation for the Magpies and a ‘Sob on the Tyne’ banner was shortly raised on the terraces of Villa Park.
Newcastle 6-0 Aston Villa, August 2010
Upon their return to the Premier League, Newcastle were out for revenge and hit Aston Villa for six early on in the 2010/11 season.
Joey Barton had opened the scoring before Kevin Nolan bagged a brace and Andy Carroll secured a hat-trick in the 90th minute.
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