Newcastle United vs Aston Villa COVID cancellation: Blessing?

If anyone needed reminding of the mess we all find ourselves in, Newcastle United have made sure that none of us are resting on our laurels following the sort of release from lockdown – with ‘several players’ and at least one member of Steve Bruce’s staff testing positive for COVID-19.

United were set to face Dean Smith’s Aston Villa on Friday 4^th December, but the recent outbreak in the North East club’s ranks led to a subsequent postponement.

As the Premier League’s solitary scheduled Friday night fixture, the match was of course set to be televised live – a prospect which should excite Newcastle United followers, but sadly that emotion has given way to more of a feeling of dread for fans in recent years.

Every time I see that NUFC are set to play in front of the nation on broadcast TV, an unmistakeable sense of apprehension bites at me, that my beloved is to embarrass me once again. In front of everybody. The only thing that partially softens the blow is the prospect of not having to listen to, or see, Richard Keys and Andy Gray.

Just a week prior to the Magpie’s fixture with Villa saw Bruce’s side travel to London for their match against Crystal Palace; a side where the fans share the same distaste, in regards to their team’s style of play and approach.

They descended on the capital with the lowest expected goals in the league, 18^th for expected goals against and second bottom for passes into the final third. Roy Hodgson’s Palace had failed to score in 44 Premier League games since the start of the 2017/18 season – more than any other club. Again, a game which was broadcasted live on a Friday night; a mouth-watering prospect.

Newcastle edged that one, winning 0-2, goals in the 88^th and 90^th minutes, courtesy of Callum Wilson and Joelinton, after what seemed like would be a third game running that they’d fail to score in.

Both sides performed uninspiringly, and the inevitable stalemate drew nearer and nearer. But the ex-Sunderland Manager’s perceived philosophy of anti-football, and to allow the opposition as many shots as possible – praying that their own (granted, very good) Goalkeepers perform a man-of-the-match display in order to facilitate a rare shot on the opposition’s goal – fortunately paid off against one of the league’s most toothless outfits.

The same tactic which has seen Newcastle be thumped on a number of occasions under Bruce’s tenure, whilst barely registering a sight of their opponent’s sticks.

Most United fans are acutely aware of their team’s personnel shortcomings, and don’t expect to win every match, despite the claims of seemingly every Premier League pundit (not you Jake Humphries, we love you, mate). But almost all other Premier League clubs attempt to affect the game and cause their opposite numbers some trouble, reflected in Sheffield United’s promotion success and the way that Southampton continue to grow under Ralph Hasenhüttl.

Ultimately, spectators, whether bias or neutral, want to be entertained. They want to feel that they have a chance, even against those who have recently joined Bruce’s team in the top division.

That is the next challenge that faces United: West Brom and Fulham at home, as well a trip to Elland Road against Leeds make up the next three fixtures, two of which – judging by the scheduled times – are set to be played out live in front of the world.

Oh god.

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