Source: Telegraph
Newcastle United v Aston Villa: St James's Park form key to survival says Fabricio Coloccini
The Argentine helped ensure that Newcastle went through the whole of last season undefeated on home territory as they won promotion as Championship winners and he believes home advantage must again be exploited in the Premier League. [LNB]Newcastle have had a £3-million offer accepted for FC Twente's Cameroon international midfielder Check Tiote, 24, and Coloccini is hoping to his prospective colleague will be able to watch his side get off the mark this weekend as he prepares for the move to be completed. [LNB]As he prepared for Sunday's visit of Aston Villa to Tyneside, Coloccini has acknowledged that Newcastle must come to terms with life back in the top flight quickly following a 3-0 defeat at Manchester United. [LNB]"We're playing in front of our fans, and last year we never lost at home, so we want to continue like this," Coloccini said. [LNB]"We need the three points for our confidence, and because the fans will be there with us." [LNB]"We felt not very well after Manchester United, but they are a big, big team, so we knew it was a difficult game. Now we have to win and take the three points. [LNB]"Man U have a lot of good players - Wayne Rooney came off and Chicharito (Javier Hernandez) came on, and (Dimitar) Berbatov is a very good player." [LNB]Coloccini played in the Newcastle side that was relegated at Villa Park on the final day of the 2008-09 season but he wants to leave those memories at the back of his mind to take the first steps towards Premier League survival. [LNB]"We have to forget that game, and we have to write a new history, and give the fans a happy day," he added. [LNB]"I think we have to think only about staying in the Premier League, but I don't know what position. Maybe the next year we can think a higher position. [LNB]Meanwhile, Newcastle manager Chris Hughton is played down the move of James Milner from Villa to Manchester City thanks to their acquisition of Stephen Ireland. [LNB]"James Milner has left Villa," Hughton said. "They've lost one quality player, but in Stephen Ireland they've got someone who was Manchester City's player of the season a year ago. [LNB]"That's the quality they've brought in, and he fits very much in with the way they play. [LNB]"He's a very offensive midfield player with a great engine. He covers the ground and provided he plays, he'll fit in very well with the way they play." [LNB]
