Hello there and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of this afternoon's Premier League encounter as Aston Villa play host to Newcastle United. We should have some team news through for you shortly...

NEWCASTLE: Krul; Janmaat, Williamson, Coloccini, Dummett; Anita, Colback; Gouffran, Sissoko, Cabella; Riviere

NEWCASTLE SUBS: Elliot, Haidara, S.Taylor, Abeid, Obertan, de Jong, Perez

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew has decided to go with the same starting XI that lost to Manchester City last weekend, which includes new signings Daryl Janmaat, Jack Colback, Remy Cabella and Emmanuel Riviere. Meanwhile, Siem de Jong is on the bench for the Magpies.

ASTON VILLA: Guzan; Hutton, Senderos, Vlaar, Cissokho; Westwood, Delph, Richardson, Weimann, N'Zogbia; Agbonlahor

ASTON VILLA SUBS: Given, Baker, Bacuna, Cole, Bent, Sanchez, Grealish

Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert has followed suit by naming the same side that beat Stoke City last weekend. However, there is a bit of movement on the bench with new signing Carlos Sanchez taking his place among the substitutes. Joe Cole is also among the replacements.

Right, let's get down to business. Both of these team's had contrasting fortunes during their opening matches of the season last weekend. Villa enjoyed a narrow 1-0 win at Stoke, while Newcastle slumped to a 2-0 defeat at home to Manchester City. It's only early days, but Newcastle boss Alan Pardew will be keen to get some points on the board this afternoon. For Villa, two wins from two matches would be a wonderful start.

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew, speaking to the Birmingham Mail: "We face a Villa side which has just picked up an away win and in the Premier League. That is gold-dust, so they will be feeling fairly confident to turn us over at home and we have to make sure we are a really stiff opposition. They have good players – they still carry great players, Aston Villa, and it will be a difficult game. Villa Park is somewhere where we have played well and we have proved we can win there."

Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert: "You can talk about inconsistency but they have always finished strongly, they have always been up there. It is a club with high expectancy levels as well, a bit like ourselves. Alan Pardew has done a really good job. There's only so many teams can get into Europe, there's only so many teams can win the title. It's hard, it's really, really tough and it's getting harder with teams getting stronger in the league. But they are still a great club. It'll be a tough game but we are certainly a lot more equipped for this one."

0 - Newcastle were the only Premier League team not to hit a shot on target on the opening weekend. Blank.

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) August 23, 2014

If you've got a few minutes to spare, why not check out our video preview of this afternoon's match?

One of the main points to come out of Newcastle's defeat to Man City last weekend was that the Magpies failed to register a shot on target. That was certainly something of a downer for Alan Pardew's team, but he praised his players after the match for their courageous display. They had the champions up against the ropes on a few occasions, and Pardew will be eager for them to show the same kind of spirit today.

Meanwhile, Villa manager Paul Lambert was thrilled with his side's display versus Stoke. There seems to be a feeling of optimism around Villa Park at the moment following the arrival of Roy Keane as assistant coach and one or two decent signings in the transfer window. However, Villa are a team that has had a habit of shooting themselves in the foot. A home win today would lift the fans even more in these early days of the new season.

HEAD TO HEAD: It's Newcastle who have the better record when it comes to past meetings between these teams. The Magpies have won 67 matches compared to Villa's 52. Meanwhile, there have been a total of 33 draws.

Looking at more recent times, Newcastle have enjoyed a good record against Villa. The Magpies have won four of the last five matches - a run that includes three consecutive victories. Villa's last win came back in April 2011 with a 1-0 triumph on home soil.

Newboy Carlos Sanchez and his new team-mates warm-up. #AVFC #AVFCLIVE #NUFC https://t.co/bGLzkmHCua — Aston Villa FC (@AVFCOfficial) August 23, 2014

PREDICTION TIME: How do you see this one going today? We're expecting goals here at Sports Mole, though we believe that Newcastle will just about edge it with a 2-1 victory. Just over 10 minutes until we find out if we're right!

RECENT FORM:

ASTON VILLA: WLLWDW
NEWCASTLE: WLWDWL

Not long to go until kickoff now as the players begin to emerge in the tunnel at Villa Park. Lots of cordiality and respect among the teams as they chat among themselves. For those of you who might be interested, it's a wonderfully bright day in the Midlands.

KICKOFF! The teams are out, the pre-match formalities have been done, and it will be Newcastle to get us underway at Villa Park. Here we go!

It's been all Newcastle during these opening few minutes as the pass and probe inside the opposition half. The visitors are looking very comfortably on the ball at the moment, while Villa are trying to chase around for possession.

Newcastle create the first opening of the match through Anita, whose tame shot from the edge of the box is easily gathered by Guzan. Villa then go up the other end on a quick counter-attack, but Agbonlahor's drive is well blocked by Williamson.

Alan Pardew is sure to be pleased with what he's seen from his players so far. The Magpies are showing plenty of composure on the ball as they continue to take the game to Villa. However, the visitors will be well aware just how slick their opponents can be on the break.

CHANCE! Close for Villa! A cross from the left is met by the head of N'Zogbia at the back post, but his headers drifts narrowly over the crossbar. They may not have had the lion's share of possession early on, but the hosts almost took the lead there.

CHANCE! Now it's Newcastle who threaten! Cabella's corner from the left is helped on by Janmaat, but Gouffran can only scuff his volley wide at the back post. You would expect the Frenchman to do better there. There's also a worry for Villa because Vlaar goes down with a knee problem following that opportunity. However, it looks like the big Dutchman will be okay to play on.

Not exactly the liveliest opening to this match, though it has come to life a bit during the last few minutes. Both sides are looking to play with a bit more urgency now. Newcastle create the latest opening as Cabella finds some space down the right, only to slice his cross high over the crossbar.

CHANCE! What a goal that would have been for Villa! The hosts win a free kick about 25 yards from goal following a foul by Colback, which N'Zogbia lines up. The winger has a crack with a powerful effort, but it curls inches wide of Krul's left post.

Villa are starting to take control of this match now. The home side are using the width of the pitch really well, involving N'Zogbia and Cissokho down the flanks. The passing is crisp and the movement is neat. All positive stuff from Paul Lambert's men.

While N'Zogbia's free kick came close to opening the scoring at one end, Colback smashes one high over the crossbar at the other. The summer signing went for power over guile and got it all wrong.

The ebb and flow of this match now sees Newcastle doing most of the pressing in the final third. They had to withstand a fair bit of Villa pressure earlier, but it the Magpies who are currently asking all of the questions. One chance falls to Cabella inside the Villa box, but he loses his balance and prods the ball wide of goal.

Villa come to life through Weimann, who delivers a wonderful cross right into the heart of the Newcastle box. However, Agbonlahor just can't a foot on it as the visitors deal with the danger. It's all getting a little bit end to end right now.

Another Villa attack sees Agbonlahor run at the Newcastle defence with his trademark pace, only to be stopped in his tracks by Janmaat. The Villa forward didn't have too many options around him there. Newcastle then go up the other end with Riviere, whose low effort is held by Guzan.

Both teams are very much lacking a cutting edge in front of goal. Chances have been created at both ends, but that finishing touch just hasn't been there. If anything, the shooting has been poor so far, with the two sides putting the ball into the stands more often than not.

Villa win a corner thanks to some persistent work from N'Zogbia, though the Newcastle defence does enough to deal with the threat. N'Zogbia has been the home side's brightest player so far, running the the visitors whenever he can. You get the feeling that he will be involved if Villa find the net in this match.

CHANCE! Good work from Delph ends with a cross being floated in from the left towards Agbonlahor, who can only head wide at the back post with a defender keeping him company. Not a bad chance for the hosts, though it was a tricky effort for the Villa forward to get on target.

Great defending from Hutton. A ball over the top almost found its way to Cabella inside the Villa box, but the full-back was there to win the ball back before getting rid of the danger. The Scot seems to be rejuvenated following a nomadic few years for him.

One minute of added time to be played...

The half-time whistle goes, bringing an end to an intriguing opening 45 minutes at Villa Park. There have been no goals so far, but the chances have been there. However, some poor finishing from both teams means that it remains a stalemate.

It's difficult to say who has been on top because there's been a fair bit of end-to-end football played, though it's probably Villa who have looked more likely to find the net. That said, Newcastle remain a threat thanks to the ever-tricky Cabella.

#AVFC 0-0 #NUFC - MATCH PIC: Gabby Agbonlahor looks to build an attack. #AVFCLIVE pic.twitter.com/oBG9F8fXAb — Aston Villa FC (@AVFCOfficial) August 23, 2014

Villa's best chance in that first half was probably N'zogbia's free kick that went narrowly wide. An inch or two the other way and it looked like it might have gone in. Meanwhile, Cabella should have done better when he slipped inside the box to put the ball wide for Newcastle.

SECOND HALF UNDERWAY! The players are back out for the second half, and it will be Villa to get us up and running again. No changes from either manager at the break.

It's been a positive start to the second half from Villa, who are doing what they did in the first period and using the width of the pitch well. Meanwhile, Newcastle are yet to trouble their opponents since the restart.

YELLOW CARD! The first booking of the matches goes the way of N'Zogbia for Villa following a late challenge on Cabella.

CHANCE! The resulting free kick from that foul sees Colback whip the ball to the back post for Janmaat, who heads it back into the dangerzone towards Williamson. The Newcastle centre-back gets above his marker to nod towards goal, but Guzan does well to tip it over the crossbar. The visitors then clear the danger from the corner.

Newcastle are beginning to ask a few questions of Villa, though it's still difficult to see where the first goal of this match is going to come from. It must be said that, for all of the poor finishing, both defence have done well so far.

CHANCE! Nearly the opening goal for Newcastle! Janmaat receives the ball out on the right before cutting on to his left foot and unleashing a powerful effort towards goal. Guzan gets nowhere near the Dutchman's strike, but it eventually fizzes over the crossbar.

CHANCE! What an opportunity for Newcastle! Cabella floats the ball into the back post where Williamson in waiting, but the defender completely misses the ball when trying to volley it into the back of the net. It looked like the centre-back could have even headed that towards goal. The visitors are starting to crank up the pressure.

SUBSTITUTION: Villa make their first change of the match as N'Zogbia is replaced by Sanchez, who is making his debut for the club. The Colombian international midfielder is greeted warmly by the home fans.

The introduction of Sanchez has given Villa a bit of a lift. The midfielder has already been involved in a couple of attacks as the home side look to take this game by the scruff of the neck. All we need is a goal!

The introduction of Sanchez has given Villa a bit of a lift. The midfielder has already been involved in a couple of attacks as the home side look to take this game by the scruff of the neck. All we need is a goal!

YELLOW CARD! Villa defender Senderos now goes into the book following a collision with Riviere. That was a good spot from referee Mike Dean.

Just over 20 minutes to go at Villa Park and this game has started to come alive. The Villa fans are egging their team on in search of the opening goal, while Newcastle are looking dangerous on the break. Weimann is the latest player to get a caution for dissent.

SUBSTITUTION: Newcastle's first change of the match sees De Jong enter the action in place of Anita. Can the summer signing do the business for the Magpies? He's been impressive in pre-season.

A good spell from Villa ends with Richardson getting the ball out on the left, but his cross is headed away by Coloccini. Villa are continuing to do most of the pressing here, limiting Newcastle to the odd break here and there. Just over 15 minutes remaining for one of these teams to win this match.

SUBSTITUTION: Villa make another change now as Bent is brought on for Richardson. What a story that would be if the former Sunderland striker can break Newcastle's hearts this afternoon.

SUBSTITUTION: Now it's Newcastle shuffling their pack as Perez replaces Riviere.

It wouldn't have counted, but Bent gives Newcastle something to think about with a header that floats over the crossbar. The flag was up for offside, though it was a decent header from the substitute. Time is running out for both sides. You get the feeling that the two teams will settle for a point the longer it goes on.

#AVFC 0-0 #NUFC - MATCH PIC: It's magic spray time. #AVFCLIVE pic.twitter.com/Vn78IDffrq — Aston Villa FC (@AVFCOfficial) August 23, 2014

It's all gone a bit stodgy as we head into the final few minutes of this encounter. Villa and Newcastle are giving the ball away far too easily, while there is also very little movement from either team. Villa's final swap sees Baker replacing Cissokho, who has had a good game for the hosts.

CHANCE! Oh, that's a good opening for Newcastle! The ball from the left goes over the head of Baker, landing at the feet of Perez. The youngster decides to hit it on the volley first time, only to blaze his effort high over the crossbar. A bit more composure there and we could have had our first goal of the afternoon.

YELLOW CARD! Ironic cheers from the Villa fans as Williamson goes into the book for bringing down Bent. The home supporters don't feel as if their team has been fairly treated by referee Mike Dean today.

CHANCE! What an opportunity for Newcastle to win this match! The ball comes to De Jong, who thumps it towards goal, but Guzan is there to make the save. That was a real stinger from the substitute.

Mike Dean has no choice but to give Williamson a second yellow card after the defender brings down Delph with Villa on the attack. Newcastle are down to 10 men as we head into four minutes of injury time. Taylor replaces Perez as the visitors make their final change of the match.

And so it ends 0-0 between Aston Villa and Newcastle following a fairly lacklustre 90 minutes of football at Villa Park. The two teams just didn't have that killer touch in the final third, though both managers will probably be satisfied with a point.

That's all from our live coverage of today's early kickoff in the Premier League, but you can follow live text updates from this afternoon's other four matches right here on Sports Mole. Just click on this link and see which games take your fancy. Thanks for your company. Goodbye!