Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen and welcome to Sports Mole's live commentary as relegation-threatened Aston Villa travel up North to face Newcastle United at St James's Park. I'm Shane and I'll be taking you through all the action as Tim Sherwood (did you know he had the best win percentage of any Spurs manager in Premier League history?) looks for his first win as Villa boss.

Sherwood, who had the best win percentage of any Spurs manager in Premier League history, had the best win percentage of any Spurs manager in Premier League history and, having had the best win percentage of any Spurs manager in Premier League history, will hope that stands him in good stead as he eyes his first victory following last week's 2-1 defeat to Stoke at Villa Park.

It's not exactly a relegation six-pointer this, because Newcastle sit a comfortable 11 points clear of danger, but it might aswell be because both sides aren't exactly in the best of form. Let's have a quick look at their fortunes as of late.

Having found the net just eight times in their last 15 games, both teams have less goals than an emo and only one victory between them in 2015. It's like a History class trying to trace Villa's last Premier League win - a 2-1 triumph over Leicester on December 7 or, if you prefer, 11 games ago! Not quite AD or BC but in football terms it might as well be.

The Magpies haven't been much better either to be honest, have they? Since Alan Pardew legged it to Crystal Palace at the beginning of the year and John Carver took over, United have won once - a 3-0 win away to Hull - in seven games. That Hull win proved a false dawn of sorts because they've drawn with Stoke, Palace and got demolished 5-0 at Manchester City last week!

Right, let's get down and dirty with a bit of team news, shall we? Of course, but first have a look at what the boys down at Sports Mole HQ have had to say on this. Ah sure go on and meet me back here in a few minutes for full lineups.

NEWCASTLE XI: Krul; Janmaat, Coloccini, Williamson, Haïdara; Obertan, Sissoko, Abeid, Ameobi; Rivière, Cissé

VILLA XI: Guzan, Hutton, Okore, Clark, Lowton, Sinclair, Delph, Cleverley, Westwood, Agbonlahor, Benteke

NEWCASTLE SUBS: Woodman, R.Taylor, Anita, Gouffran, Gutierrez, Armstrong, Perez

VILLA SUBS: Given, Bacuna, Weimann, Sanchez, Gil, N'Zogbia, Grealish

Normally we'd be polite and start with the visitors, but we'll start with the hosts and the big news is that Jonas Gutierrez could make his first Newcastle appearance since being diagnosed and subsequently winning his battle with testicular cancer. It's been 17 months since he turned out for the Magpies, and he's on the bench today. Really good to see him back.

John Carver makes four changes in total from that demoralising 5-0 thumping at Eastlands. It's the same back four that got annihilated at City, but three changes in midfield as Mehdi Abeid, Sammy Ameobi and Gabriel Obertan come in, while Emmanuel Riviere partners Papiss Cisse up top. Incidentally, Riviere is yet to score a Premier League goal since his summer move from Monaco, and we're talking 14 games, so maybe he'll come good today.

On to the Villans now and Mr Win Percentage also opts for four changes it seems. The suspended Ron Vlaar and the injured Kieran Richardson both drop out of defence for Jores Okore and Matt Lowton respectively, while Tom Cleverley and Ashley Westwood come into midfield alongside Scott Sinclair and Fabian Delph. Gabby Agbonlahor and Christian Benteke continue up front as per usual.

Who can Villa look to for a bit of inspiration then? In seasons past it would've been obviously Christian Benteke, but the big Belgian makes Mario Balotelli looks like Lionel Messi at the minute. Benteke has just two Premier League goals from 17 appearances and Sherwood simply has to get the 24-year-old - who scored 23 goals in his first season, 2012-13 - firing again because he can be such an asset for them in their survival push.

Benteke's importance isn't lost on Sherwood, who has revealed that he is working tirelessly to help the misfiring striker get his groove back. In truth, this method involves reminding the big man how lethal he once was, so let's see if Sherwood's rebuilding of Benteke is evident this afternoon.

On to the Magpies now and who can they look to for a bit of class? With 10 goals in 17 Premier League outings, it has to be Papiss Cisse doesn't it. He drew a blank in that demolition at the Etihad last week but he did find the net in the previous game - a 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace. He's only scored once since returning from Africa Cup of Nations duty, but the Senegal hitman is certainly their go-to-guy today.

They've also got other threats in the form of Remy Cabella, who has only scored once but he has looked much better in 2015, but he's injured. They've got Ayoze Perez on the bench, though, and with five goals, he could be a decent addition at some point throughout the afternoon.

Did You Know? It's been nearly 10 years since Villa recorded an away win at Newcastle? Yep. It was April 2005 and it all went a bit Jeremy Kyle as Newcastle teammates Kieron Dyer and Lee Bowyer found themselves punching the head off one another in a 3-0 defeat for the hosts. Will we see a repeat of that scoreline? Considering Villa can't score to save their lives it's extremely unlikely, but let's see.

Prediction: Right we're about 10 minutes from kickoff at St James's, which can only mean one thing: it's time to get a pre-match prediction very wrong. I've already been to the bookies and I can confirm that I've included a Villa win in my accumulator. Score? Okay let's go 2-1 Villa, with Benteke and Sinclair on the scoresheet. There we have it.

How do you see things going? Go ahead and have your own prediction. It won't reach me, and you won't win a speedboat for a correct guess or anything, but sure it's only a bit of fun. Pharrell Williams's 'Happy' echoes around St James's Park but perhaps a little Leonard Cohen would've been a better fit considering both teams' form as of late. Anyway, we should be seeing the players shortly.

Alright so both sets of players enter the field of play and kickoff isn't far away at all. Let's go.

Kickoff! Aaaaaaaaaaaaand we're off in the North East. Aston Villa, playing toward the Faustino Asprilla end, get us underway. Let's gooo!

Chance! Benteke whips in a delightful low cross and it's just begging to be tapped home, but Agbonlahor misses it and Daryl Janmaat gets in front of Sinclair before he can tap home. Brilliant delivery but Newcastle survive.

We've seen very, very little of Newcastle in the final third so far. They've had a decent bit of possession in the middle of the park but they've been unable to link that into attack thus far. Big day for Riviere, who is making his first Newcastle start in five months.

I predicted a Villa win beforehand and I'm enthused by what I've seen from them in this first nine minutes or so. Agbonlahor, Sinclair and Benteke have looked dangerous in that three-pronged attack.

Shot! Villa win a corner after Janmaat's shot deflects out off Clark. It came at the end of a 25-pass move, which should illustrate how patient the Magpies will have to be this afternoon. Promising, but the corner came to nothing in the end.

Disallowed goal! Villa have the ball in the net but it's ruled out for offside. It was Agbonlahor who stroked past Tim Krul and it was the right decision. Well done lino.

Chance! Good defending by right-back Alan Hutton. The Scot mis-read the flight of a cross firstly, and it allowed Papiss Cisse to nip in behind him, but Hutton recovered just in time before Cisse could pull the trigger. Newcastle are slowly but surely improving.

Villa just edging things in the last few minutes but it remains such an even game; so much so that lord knows what score it's going to be. It does have the feel of a 0-0, though, so if you're expecting goals you might want to abandon me.

Close! This isn't far away at all, as Ashley Westwood's searching ball finds Benteke, who looks to side-foot past Krul at the near post but it drifts narrowly wide. Good effort but he was better off searching for the far post.

Villa booking: Alan Hutton goes into the book for a late challenge on Sammy Ameobi, but it's his reaction at conceding the foul which leads to his booking I think. Silly booking that.

Save! Decent save from Tim Krul to keep out a fabulous effort, as Benteke's overhead kick is sailing into the top corner but the Dutchman beats it away. Villa slowly but surely growing on top now.

Penalty appeal: Obertan goes down in the box under a challenge from Delph, but it looks a good decision by Lee Mason as he dismisses half-hearted appeals by a few Newcastle players. Good tackle from Delph.

Villa well on top now as they come close again with a few half-chances in quick succession, with Benteke again at the forefront of it. They say he's low on confidence but the Belgian has attempted two overheads so far and nearly scored with one!

The hosts find the breakthrough, but it's totally against the run of play as Janmaat drills a ball into the box and Cisse is on hand to poke past Brad Guzan after Okore failed to clear the danger. 1-0 and Sherwood will be sick.

Five minutes left until the break then and it'll be so harsh on Villa if they go into the break trailing - but it might yet get worse for them because Sherwood's side look a little punchdrunk and the Magpies look like they want a second.

Chance!!! We said Newcastle want a second, and they should've scored one as Emmanuel Riviere - making his first start in five months - evades his marker and heads Obertan's corner inches wide of the post. It was a free header, and really he should've done much, much better.

Restart! Aaaaaaaaand we are back underway at St James's, my friends. Newcastle, playing into the Nicky Butt stand, kick us off. Let's go.

It was a bit of a smash-and-grab that first half because Villa were comfortably the better team in the opening 45, so let's see if they can salvage something.

Shot! Obertan looks a little more prominent in this half so far, and he's just flashed a decent effort over the bar from a very acute angle.

Villa coming into the game a little more after Newcastle bossed the first few minutes but you wonder if they've got enough firepower in the final third to a) get back on level terms and b) win the game. It's doubtful.

Newcastle booking: Mike Williamson is the second player to be booked after taking one for the team by cynically fouling Agbonlahor. No complaints.

Stupid foul by Ashley Westwood to bring down Obertan, and Newcastle will drop this into the danger zone here...

Close! Newcastle nearly go and grab another from the resulting free kick as Cisse heads narrowly wide of the post. That might've been game, set and match, considering how poor Villa have looked in the first 15 minutes of this half.

Newcastle sub: Some worrying signs now as Massadio Haidara is stretchered off the field to a mass applause from both sets of fans. Ryan Taylor, of course no stranger to injuries himself, comes on as his replacement.

Chance! Oh Tom Cleverley you need to be scoring here pal. Christian Benteke nods a hopeful long ball into the path of Cleverley, who evades Taylor's challenge and drills a left-footed shot straight at Krul - either side of the Dutchman and it's 1-1. Poor finish.

Villa sub: Sherwood makes his first change as Scott Sinclair makes way for Charles N'Zogbia, who of course played for Newcastle before having a run-in with Joe Kinnear after he called him Charles Insomnia.

Chance!!!!!! So, so, so poor from Obertan, who misses the chance to add a second. He leads a counter-attack on the left-hand wing before cutting inside Hutton but, instead of shooting, tries to go around Ciaran Clark, who snuffs out the chance. Catch it on MOTD later. Incredibly bad.

Brilliant defending from second-half sub Taylor as he clears the danger to prevent Benteke from tapping home. Excellent work.

Disallowed goal! Villa really turning the screw now and they score their second disallowed goal of the match as Benteke taps home N'Zogbia's cross but it's correctly ruled offside.

Double sub: Agbonlahor makes way for Andreas Wiemann, while Ayoze Perez replaces the ineffective Emmanuel Riviere.

Villa are furious as they're denied a swift counter-attack as Lee Mason awards the hosts a free kick on the edge of the box...

Save! It's Ryan Taylor who steps up to it, but his free kick is pushed away by Guzan in a routine save.

Off the post! Within minutes of his introduction, Ayoze Perez comes so close to making the game safe but his header crashes against the post.

10 minutes to go then and, well, it doesn't look great for Villa, whose winless streak is going to be extended to 12 games unless something miraculous happens.

Fantastic block from Fabricio Coloccini there as he throws his body in the line of fire to take the sting off Westwood's shot. Excellent.

Villa sub: Last throw of the dice for Mr Sherwood as left-back Matt Lowton makes way for midfielder Leandro Bacuna.

Villa booking: Ciaran Clark becomes the sixth player to go into the book today - and the fifth for Villa - for a rather cynical challenge on Cisse.

Shot! What a hit this was, as Taylor takes on a volley from all of about 40 yards and it stings the gloves of Guzan. Fine effort.

Three minutes of normal time left now and Newcastle have a corner, which is exactly where they'll want the ball. Ameobi will whip it in...

Nope they go short and the chance fizzles out. I'm expecting four or five minutes of stoppage time so this one is far from over.

Six minutes added on!!!!! Plenty of time to nick an equaliser then.

Four minutes of additional time to play and Newcastle look like hanging on - and what a huge win it'd be for them. Villa, it has to be said, haven't really done enough.

Villa just can't get the ball for long enough to fashion chances and Newcastle have a corner now. It should be a safe win from this stage surely?

Aaaaaaaaaaaand it's all over at St James's. Newcastle, courtesy of Papiss Cisse's first-half strike, edge out Aston Villa 1-0 for their first home win in 2015.

That's all we've got time for today folks, but we've got player ratings and analysis on the horizon so look out for that. Until next time, you stay classy...