Newcastle 0-1 Aston Villa

&c

Newcastle fell to their first home defeat of the season to Unai Emery's Aston Villa in the Saturday teatime kickoff.

Having suffered back to back 4-1 away maulings at Leeds and Coventry, we had at least ended Hull's unbeaten run in the home game in between, and there was a feeling that our home form might just about be keeping our season afloat.

Unfortunately, this was the game in which the result bore out the statistics as a bafflingly awful Newcastle simply blundered around the pitch with no semblance of a midfield, absolutely no attacking presence, and a defence that inspires no confidence at all.

That the only goal of the game was scored by the excellent Manzambi - who was all set to join us in the summer before (one could say wisely) getting cold feet and joining Villa - hardly needs to be said.

The game started with little pattern from either side, Joelinton starting, with Wissa up front and Pardo on the right.

It remained fairly helter skelter, with the only chance of note falling to Jackson for Villa, but almost went pear shaped in the 20th minute, Joelinton lunging in with a bad tackle and in the same phase of play, Botman diving in with his studs up on Jackson.

As Joelinton was booked, tempers flared, and a VAR check for the Botman tackle was very surprisingly cleared.

Botman was lucky, Jackson luckier not to come away seriously injured, saying after the game he almost broke his leg.

In the 35th minute a cross was put into our box and Miley, who struggled at right back all afternoon, was caught napping, with his man Manzambi completely unmarked and able to nod home.

We attempted to immediately capitulate in the traditional manner, but Buendia hit the post moments later.

Our single shot on target - yes, all game - came in early in the second half, Botman swivelling and hammering the ball goalwards, denied by an excellent Suzuki save.

The Villa keeper is another we apparently looked at, and on current evidence looks decidedly more at home in this league than Hornicek, who did later save well from Barkley.

Before the hour mark, Pardo and Willock were hooked, Toure coming on and sharing wings with Barnes, Osula going up front, ostensibly with Wissa.

We attempted to attack all second half but never looked remotely convincing, our best chance aside from Botman's shot coming when Wissa ran from half way the ignored Barnes in space to his right in the box, instead poking a tame effort wide when the shot was never on.

Barnes was absolutely livid.

As we ticked over into stoppage time, we got the Vertical Football piece du resistance - Big Dan Burn up top.

Jaissle claimed that the "smart fans" can see why this is a good idea, but I must be thick as mince because it seems like it should be a Plan F or G, to be used in real and rare emergencies, rather than Plan B.

As the final whistle went, I was consoled on a personal note.

This was my first game in the Gallowgate for six years, eight months and fifteen days (not that I'm counting), having given up my season ticket of 15 years for personal reasons.

I truly never got over giving it up - until today.

This was helped by speaking to someone I used to sit next to and finding out she now pays £300 more for the privilege than I did back in the day.

I also can't shake the feeling that I'm the problem - I'm still yet to see us win in the league since giving up my ticket.

Final thoughts - regardless of the difficulty of being given a bunch of bairns to work with, Jaissle-ball ain't working, and we desperately need to see some evidence he can change things to avoid the Amorim - or worse but possibly more apt, Jesse Marsch - comparisons.