By Tyne-Talk
April 9 2011

Newcastle United skipper Kevin Nolan has said that there is no score to settle at Villa Park tomorrow afternoon, instead it is about picking up the points to secure a top ten finish. Nolan was asked whether they would be seeking revenge after being relegated two seasons ago after Villa defeat on the last day of the season, but he insisted their motivation is success.

“I’ll be there and right behind the lads. I wanted to go back there and right a few wrongs on the pitch, but it hasn’t worked out that way.

Now I can just do my bit from afar and support the lads. We haven’t got a score to settle or a point to prove as such.

It is about success this season. It wasn’t down to that one game two years ago – it was over a season that we got relegated.

It wasn’t down to Villa, even though it sticks out in people’s minds. Hopefully the fans who were there go back this time and, although they will have sad memories, they can sing their hearts out.

And the lads can then return the favour with a win that we need.”

Nolan is suspended for the match after picking up his 10^th yellow card of the season, but will be with the team in the dressing room as any captain would.

Danny Guthrie, who was also part of the 2008/09 team which ended in the Championship, suggested that Villa are now in exactly the same position he saw his side in back then;

"Maybe Villa are in a similar place to where we were back then. They've got players like Stewart Downing and Ashley Young - who were England's top performers recently - but they're in the same boat as we were back in 2009.

Villa have spent money and have good players, but it just looks as if something is not right. They should look at what happened to us and realise you cannot be too good to go down.

If the team is not pulling in the same direction, then it does not matter who is in the team, you will lose games. And once you get stuck in a rut, it is very difficult to get out of it because the pressure then grows from fans.

At this stage of the season, a good team spirit is more important than individual quality. Those individuals can still produce a little bit of magic, but if team spirit is not right you could find yourself in big trouble."

MATCH PREVIEW/STATS/THREAD: ASTON VILLA V NEWCASTLE UNITED HERE

Nolan: No Score To Settle - Guthrie: Villa Are Where We Were

Discussion started by TyneTalk (IP Logged), 09/04/2011 14:33

TyneTalk
09/04/2011 14:33

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