Former Aston Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor has delivered a stark assessment of Newcastle’s chances at Villa Park today.
Speaking in an interview with Football Insider, Agbonlahor said Villa simply have “a better team” and would "put things right" against Newcastle in this afternoon's 3pm kick-off.
Asked whether he was concerned by Villa’s 3-2 loss to Watford at Vicarage Road last weekend, he pointed to the unusual circumstances. “It was Watford’s first game back in the Premier League with a full house. They were always going to be favourites for that game.
“Teams playing back in front of their fans will have that edge. Aston Villa will have that edge over Newcastle. They’ve got a better team for one.”
“A full house at Villa Park, those players who have signed in the last two years haven’t played in front of a full Villa Park. I’ve got no worries at all.
The former club captain, who made his debut for Villa in 2006 and still holds Villa’s all-time Premier League scoring record, also name-checked some of the club’s new signings, and predicted trouble for Newcastle.
“Dean Smith hasn’t had his best team available,” he said. “If Watkins was available he’d play Watkins and Ings with Bailey and Buendia. If they were all fit, he could play all of them and really go at Newcastle with attacking players.
“I’m sure they’ll put things right on Saturday.”
