Good afternoon and welcome to LIVE coverage of Newcastle United against Aston Villa from the Sports Direct Arena in the Premier League.

Ireland dinks the ball down the park with Coloccini caught upfield, but Santon nods the ball back to Krul.

Clark heads away a hopeful Simpson cross. All very predictable so far from Newcastle. Villa content to let them play in front of their defence.

Brad Guzan starts instead of Shay Given for Aston Villa. He has started six previous Premier League matches for Villa, keeping one clean sheet.

Offside flag goes up against Cisse. Early days, but Villa will be none too displeased with how this match has started.

Newcastle again on the ball at the halfway line. Vlaar hammers the ball long down the park. No shots on goal at either end.

Cabaye with a long hopeful ball into the heart of the Villa area, but Guzan is out quickly to snap up the loose ball in the air.

Demba Ba tries to slide the ball through to Cisse, but he is crowded out by several Villa players. Decent piece of defending by the visitors.

Ben Arfa again takes up a decent position in the Newcastle half, but the delivery is poor as Guzan plucks it out the air with some ease.

Lovely change of pace by Ben Arfa. Appeals for a free-kick after Arfa went to ground, but the referee waves play on. Villa working hard here.

Shay Given looking on after he was dropped to the bench by manager Paul Lambert to be replaced by Brad Guzan in goal today. Not sure he would have taken that too well. Villa trying to gain a foothold in the home half.

Lowton on the charge down a flank, but can't keep the ball in play and Newcastle can play the ball out their own half.

Darren Bent makes his milestone 200th Premier League start. He has failed to score in his last four league appearances against Newcastle, since netting for Sunderland in their 5-1 loss at Newcastle in October 2010.

Cabaye throws a lovely free-kick into the heart of the area. Coloccini goes to ground in the Villa box. Slight appeals for a penalty. Lichaj seemed to be pulling his jersey, but would have been soft.

Odds for this one today: Newcastle (4/6), Aston Villa (5/1), Draw (11/4). Newcastle immediately on the front foot.

Villa get this match off and running. Strong favourites to win this match today.

Teams in the tunnel in Newcastle. Both sides in their traditional shirts for this one. Gorgeous afternoon for football it must be said.

The Magpies have won six and lost just one of their last 11 Premier League home games against Aston Villa. The Villans are now on a run of 12 league games without a victory - won 0 drawn five and lost seven.

Newcastle have lost just one of their last 11 Premier League home games (won eight - drew two - lost one). Aston Villa have won none of their last nine Premier League away matches (won 0 - drawn four - lost five), a run which started with defeat at St James's Park.

Paul Lambert (Aston Villa) has a warning for younger players: "Some young players, not all, think if they play two or three Premier League games, they’ve arrived. If somebody plays 600 or 500 games, yes, then I might think you have. That’s why I’ve got great admiration for people like Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs because every year they produce and produce and produce, whether they are getting £8 a week or £80,000 a week. I don’t like young players coming in and thinking they’ve arrived."

Alan Pardew (Newcastle) on owner Mike Ashley keeping the club's main players during the transfer window: "You have to pay a lot of respect to Mike, the owner here, because he could have cashed in on one of our big players. We have had a couple of phone calls during the window and Mike has been pretty adamant that everybody stays. I thank him for that and our fans should thank him too because we are not as affluent as some other clubs."

Aston Villa newcomer Joe Bennett is not included at the Sports Direct Arena on Sunday despite the left-back making the switch from Middlesbrough in midweek in a £2.5million deal plus add-ons. Defender Ciaran Clark returns after serving a one match suspension. Clark was ruled out of the midweek Capital One Cup win over Tranmere after being red-carded against Everton last weekend.