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Louise Taylor

Newcastle’s latest attempt to play vertical football left Matthias Jaissle’s side horizontal at Coventry on Monday night. That 4-1 defeat has prompted quite an inquest on Tyneside, where Jaissle could do without his players falling flat on their faces once more when Aston Villa visit St James’ Park. Jaissle maintains that his vertical football is the brand of high-octane, aggressive attacking that Newcastle’s hierarchy believes should become the club’s default, and is the way fans want to see the team play.

That argument is not without validity but it is also worth remembering that, less than a decade ago, under Rafael Benítez’s charge, Newcastle often played a low block bolstered by three at the back, rarely took unnecessary risks and improved steadily. Admittedly resources were thinner then but the fans almost universally adored Benítez and were heartbroken when he eventually tired of Mike Ashley’s ownership and resigned.

Quite apart from making his dislike for chaotic football plain, the Spaniard was a realist who knew a gung-ho approach would spell relegation. Granted, tactical fashions have changed, but Jaissle could do worse than slow things down a bit and search for his inner Rafa against Villa.

Hello and welcome to live coverage of Newcastle v Aston Villa at St James’ Park. Both aspire to Champions League football – Villa are in it this this season – so it’s slightly incongruous to see them both in the bottom half of the table.

Newcastle have had a mixed start under Matthias Jaissle and were plugged 4-1 at Coventry on Monday. After a miserable, goalless beginning to the season, a hastily rebuilt Villa have started to stir and thrashed Fenerbahce 6-0 in midweek.

We’re less than a sixth of the way through the Premier League season, so there’s plenty of time for Newcastle and Villa to progress towards the mean. A win tonight would be a good place to start.

Kick off 5.30pm.