FA Cup Fourth Round: Aston Villa Host Newcastle in Historic Clash
Newcastle United are set to face Aston Villa at Villa Park in the FA Cup fourth round, marking the second of four consecutive away matches for Eddie Howe's squad. This journey began impressively with a midweek Premier League victory over Tottenham Hotspur, a result that led to Thomas Frank's dismissal. Now, the Magpies turn their attention to a historic FA Cup encounter with Villa, the seventh such meeting between the two clubs since 16 February 1895.
A Look Back at Historic Encounters
In that inaugural match in 1895, Aston Villa secured a resounding 7-1 victory. However, a repeat of such a one-sided affair seems unlikely this time, as history indicates this fixture could carry significant weight. Over the past six seasons, whenever these teams have met in the FA Cup, the outcome has often been telling: in five of those six instances, the match was either the final itself or the winning team advanced to the final.
Long-Awaited Trophy Hopes
Both clubs are eager to end lengthy FA Cup droughts. Newcastle United last lifted the trophy in 1955, their sixth FA Cup win, while Aston Villa's most recent triumph came in 1957, their seventh overall. For these historic clubs, the wait for another cup victory has been prolonged, adding extra motivation to this fourth-round tie.
The match is scheduled to kick off at 5.45 PM GMT at Villa Park. In the lead-up to the game, fans can expect team news and comprehensive build-up coverage as both sides prepare for what promises to be a pivotal encounter in their FA Cup campaigns.
