Most teams used to dread coming to Villa Park, as it was a difficult place for all away teams, but it has been a very different story this season, with our last home win coming back on bonfire night.

Remember, remember the 5th of November, so they rhyme goes. Well it is quite a significant date for both sides going into tomorrows encounter.

As I already mentioned, it was the last time Villa managed a win in front of there own fans, with a 3-2 victory over Paul Lamberts Norwich City side. And for Manchester City, a statistic that surprises me, it was the last time they scored more than one goal away from home, in a 3-2 victory over Queens Park Rangers.

I find it hard to see anything but an away win tomorrow, but I wonder what the odds are on a 3-2 Aston Villa victory, with Villa securing a win, and City scoring more than one on the road, for the first time since November 5th. Worth a cheeky bet maybe?

There are planned protests before tomorrows game, some say they are needed, while others are saying they will be embarrassing, but as Ian Taylor stated on his twitter ‘Entitled to voice there opinion, but still support the team’.

Teamnews

Aston Villa: Local lads Gabriel Agbonlahor (back and hamstring), Marc Albrighton (thigh) and defender James Collins (calf) have all took part in training this week so could play some part.

With Gary Gardner being in the media this week quite a lot, I have a feeling he could start as McLeish will tinker with the side to try and change Villa’s home form.

Robbie Keane will play his last home game for Villa before returning to LA Galaxy following a successful loan spell.

Manchester City: Mario Ballotelli will complete his four match suspension, with the Toure brothers are still away at the African Cup of Nations.

Stefen Savic should make way for Captain Vincent Kompany following a knee injury.

Quick Statistics

Venue: Villa Park, Birmingham
Ticket Availability: £23-£43 (Buy Now)
Kick Off: 16:00 GMT
TV: Sky Sports Live

Possible Starting XI

Aston Villa: Given, Hutton, Dunne, Collins, Warnock, Agbonlahor, Petrov, Gardner, N’Zogbia, Keane, Bent.
Manchester City: Hart, Richards, Lescott, Kompany, Clichy, Milner, Barry, Johnson, Silva, Aguero, Dzeko.

This weekends fixture sees Aston Villa head up the A1 to take on Newcastle United at the Sports Direct Arena.

It wont be easy for Villa, especially as last time we headed to Newcastle we got smashed 6-0! On top of that many Geordies still don’t like us due to that famous banner when they got relegated. Chin up though lads – We all hate Martin O’Neill and Sunderland now!

There will be three players who used to play in the Black and White colours of Newcastle. Goalkeeping legend Shay Given, French winger Charles N’Zogbia and loan misfit Stephen Ireland.

The home side will be looking to continue there good form this season as they continue to push for a Europa League place, and maybe even surprise a few with a Champions League spot, while Villa on the other hand will want to continue there recent away form with a push for a top 10 finish.

As I have already stated, It wont be easy but again I will say something I have been saying all year. If we play our own game, instead of trying to adjust to stopping the opposition then we will have a chance but if we play like we did in the first half against Queens Park Rangers, Newcastle might not be so kind and we could see a repeat of last seasons dreadful performance.

Teamnews

Newcastle Utd: Alan Pardew will still be without Cheik Tiote who is still away at the African Nations, while his usual midfield partner Yohan Cabaye is still missing through suspension.

Defender Steven Taylor (Achilles), and midfielders Sylvain Marveaux (groin) and Sammy Ameobi (knee) are all long term absentees.

Fifteen goal Demba Ba could return after returning from International duty and Papiss Demba Cisse could be in line for his debut.

Aston Villa: Gabriel Agbonlahor is still a major doubt with back and hamstring spasms. The club are looking to put him on a special fitness programme to stop these problems in the future.

Winger Marc Albrighton (thigh) and defender James Collins are battling to be fit, while Chris Herd remains a long term casualty.

Quick Statistics

Venue: Sports Direct Arena, Newcastle.
Stadium Guide: Click here.
Kick Off: 13:30 GMT
TV: Sky Sports Live

Aston Villa and QPR might take each other on in the Premiership tomorrow night at Villa Park but in the fans eyes they are two sides a million miles away from each other.

Rangers got promoted in the summer but they are spending money like it grows on trees and really making a show of intent in terms of not just staying in the division but establishing themselves in the league.

Villa on the other hand are going through, errm well I would like to say a transition period but if I am perfectly honest, I haven’t got a clue what is going on at the club.

The home side will be looking to bounce back from that dreadful second half performance at the Emirates Stadium and continue there recent impressive home form.

QPR will not only be on a high from there new signings but they are still stuck in ‘new manager’ syndrome.

Also, Rangers have never beaten Villa at Villa Park so they will be looking to overcome that, and with Villa’s form not being the best at home this season, and the home crowd will no doubt be on the back of both players and manager if there isn’t a positive performance, this would be a very good opportunity

Teamnews

Aston Villa: Charles N’Zogbia will be available after recovering from a heel injury and could play a part.

Marc Albrighton (thigh) and James Collins (calf) will both be missing, alongside long-term casualty Chris Herd (ankle).

QPR: Djibril Cisse, Taye Taiwo and Nedum Onouha could all be in line to make there debut for Mark Hughes side.

Strikers Jay Bothroyd (groin) and DJ Campbell (hamstring) have both been ruled out, while Heidar Helguson (groin), Akos Buzsaky (ankle) and Danny Gabbidon (hip) are all doubts.

Armand Traore and Adel Taarabt are still on international duty at the African Nations.

Quick Statistics

Venue: Villa Park, Birmingham
Kick Off: 19:45 GMT
Ticket Availability: Tickets available at £20-£25

Squads

Aston Villa: Given, Guzan, Agbonlahor, Bannan, Clark, Cuellar, Dunne, Ireland, Marshall, Petrov, Warnock, N’Zogbia, Hutton, Weimann, Johnson, Burke, Bent, Heskey, Keane, Stevens, Lichaj, Gardner.

QPR: Kenny, Cerny, Murphy, Gabbidon, Onuoha, Ferdinand, Taiwo, Hall, Hill, Young, Derry, Barton, Buzsaky, Smith, Mackie, Helguson, Wright-Phillips, Hulse, Macheda, Cisse.

Whenever Aston Villa travel to North London, you know they are in for a very tough game, and tomorrows FA Cup tie with Arsenal will be no different.

Despite the home side’s recent form, they will go into this game quietly confident of booking themselves into the next round of one of club footballs most prestigious competitions.

The Gunners are currently on a run of winning one game in four, and that was against a Championship Leeds side in the last round of this competition.

Regardless of what you think of Arsene Wenger, he does tend to have a way of doing things and the majority of the time he tends to come out on top. With fans and possibly some players recently questioning his decisions, to say the North London side need a victory would be an understatement.

Villa on the other hand go into this fixture with a nothing to lose attitude Lets be honest, we are expected to lose this game – especially the way we play under a certain Scottish manager.

However, we have only lost one game in 6, and go into this game on the back of a derby day victory after that thrilling 3-2 encounter against Wolverhampton Wanderers last weekend.

On top of that we have a pretty decent record at the Emirates Stadium, that we would all like to keep in tact.

Villa will also be boasted by 5,250 travelling fans, following Randy Lerners free coach gesture. Let’s just hope we are not going to end up with a drumming like the last time we got free coaches when a very on-form Chelsea side smashed us 4-0.

And after reading a Arsenal blog earlier, they would love nothing more – purely because of there hatred for Alex McLeish and how he defender a bad challenge on Eduardo which resulted in a broken leg a few years ago.

For all those with questions and queries regarding your tickets or travel be sure to read this article.

Teamnews

I fully expect Villa to start with a similar line up to the side that finished the game at Wolves last weekend. I can see Gary Gardner making way so Gabby Agbonlahor can start on the wing, after overcoming an injury scare he picked up in the derby win.

Quick Statistics

Venue: Emirates Stadium
Ticket Availability: Sold Out (5,250)
Kick Off: 16:00 GMT
Stadium Guide: Emirates Stadium

Villa face a break from the Premiership as they compete in the FA Cup next weekend against Arsenal, but face three league games in just 12 days next month.

With one defeat in 6, Alex McLeish’s men will be looking to build on that form, with two home fixtures and two difficult away trips.

ASTON VILLA v QPR

Aston Villa’s home form as been there problem this season, while QPR have a new manager and we all know what a new manager brings to a club.

It will be no easy feat, but Villa will want to build on there recent form with a long awaited home win – something the Claret and Blue faithful desperately want.

The away side will hold the upper hand in this fixture winning 22 compared to Villas 17, with 10 draws between the two.

Watch Villa as the look to build on there recent form in February by purchasing Football Tickets online at TicketBis.

NEWCASTLE UTD v ASTON VILLA

Newcastle have been the surprise package this season and will be remembering Villa’s last visit to St James Park that ended in a 6-0 victory.

However, with Demba Ba away on African Nation’s duty, it could be the perfect chance to continue with there impressive recent away form.

These two sides have met no less than 146 occasions with Villa coming out on top 52 times. Newcastle hold 32 victories, while they have drawed 62 times.

ASTON VILLA v MANCHESTER CITY

Table toppers Manchester City will be looking for victory as they continue to push for there first ever Premiership title.

It will see former Villa players James Milner and Gareth Barry both return to Villa Park.

Villa wont be looking forward to this fixture, not just because the prospect of playing Moneybags City is daunting enough but the record between the two doesn’t exactly go in our favour.

Manchester City have come out on top 63 times compared to Villa’s 38, with 51 fixtures ending all square.

WIGAN ATHLETIC v ASTON VILLA

This is a game Villa have to be looking at winning if they are not to be dragged into a relegation battle. It is always hard to predict what you will get with Wigan as they can be shockingly poor one day – but a joy to watch the next.

Villa just about hold the upper hand in this fixture with 5 wins to Wigan’s 4.

This will be no easy month but I believe we need to be targeting at least 6 points, but obviously the more the better.

Don’t forget you can buy your tickets online at Ticketbis.