Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the match in the Premier League between Aston Villa and Newcastle United.

Aston Villa were mathematically relegated a few weeks ago and realistically a few months ago but as far as Newcastle United are concerned, the battle continues into the final games of the campaign. They head into today's fixture with a slender advantage over rivals Sunderland and Norwich City but things are finely poised and could potentially change several times this afternoon. We should have an eventful couple of hours in store for you!

The mood among the away faithful come kickoff at Villa Park is dependent on who prevails from the match at Carrow Road between Norwich and Manchester United. As it stands, the Canaries are on their way to a point that would close the gap on the Magpies but it would give Newcastle the opportunity to move four points clear of Alex Neil's team with two games to play. You'd imagine that the North-East giants will be hoping that the score remains goalless! You can catch the final quarter of that game with our live commentary.

Before we bring you today's team news, why not head over to our coverage of the final day of the Championship. There are less than 10 minutes remaining and the battle for the second promotion place could not be tighter!

Anyway, without further ado, let's take a look at who has been included in the starting lineups named by both ric Black and Rafael Benitez.

ASTON VILLA XI: Bunn, Clark, Lescott, Toner, Hutton, Westwood, Sanchez, Gana, Bacuna, Ayew, Sinclair

ASTON VILLA SUBSTITUTES: Guzan, Richards, Adama, Gil, Hepburn-Murphy, Lyden, Grealish

NEWCASTLE UNITED XI: Darlow, Anita, Mbemba, Lascelles, Dummett, Tiote, Colback, Townsend, Sissoko, Wijnaldum, Cisse

NEWCASTLE UNITED SUBSTITUTES: De Jong, Shelvey, Perez, Janmaat, Taylor, Woodman, Mitrovic

Unsurprisingly, Benitez has decided to retain the same Newcastle side that began the 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace last weekend. There is an alteration on the bench, however, with Daryl Janmaat taking his place among the replacements.

As for Villa, Scott Sinclair has been handed a recall to the side while youngster Kevin Toner retains his place in the team. Aly Cissokho is suspended after his red card at Watford last weekend.

GOAL FLASH! There has been a goal at Carrow Road and it has gone the way of Manchester United! Juan Mata has found the back of the net. There are around 10 minutes left - catch all the action by clicking here!

RESULT! Middlesbrough have been promoted to the Premier League! A 1-1 draw for Aitor Karanka's men against Brighton & Hove Albion is enough to see them edge out today's opponents. Read all about it by clicking here.

HEAD TO HEAD! Today's fixture represents the 161st time that these two teams have played each other in a competitive fixture, with Villa winning 55 times compared to Newcastle's 70 victories. The Magpies are also eight games unbeaten against their hosts with Villa's last triumph coming all the way back in April 2011.

REVERSE FIXTURE! The reverse fixture between these two sides took place in December and it came at a time when Newcastle had just defeated Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur and Remi Garde was still searching for his first win as Villa boss. However, the spoils were shared at St James' Park with Jordan Ayew cancelling out Fabricio Coloccini's effort. Catch the full report here.

RESULT! The full-time whistle has gone at Carrow Road and Manchester United have held on for a 1-0 victory over Norwich City. It's a huge result for Newcastle United with a win this afternoon leaving the Canaries needing to prevail from their last two games to finish above the North-East giants. Read our on-the-whistle report by clicking here.

Here's a look at how things stand at the bottom of the table. With Newcastle facing Spurs on the final day of the season, you feel as though they have to win this game.

With Norwich's defeat, Sunderland also have an opportunity to pull away from the Canaries. They host Chelsea at the Stadium of Light this afternoon and while that is a difficult game on paper, Sam Allardyce will have drummed into his side that the Blues may struggle to produce the same standard of display that they performed at against Spurs on Monday night. We will keep you fully up-to-date with all the goings-on in the North-East but if you wish to follow that game, you can do so by clicking here.

PREDICTION! Villa have shown signs of quality in the final third in their last two games but with all that is on the line, we are backing Newcastle to keep it tight at the back and grind out a 2-1 win that could possibly move them to within touching distance of survival.

KEY MAN! After his stunning free kick against Palace, Andros Townsend comes into this game as the player most likely to make things happen for Newcastle. He's netted four times in 11 appearances since his £12m move from Spurs in January and with Villa having shipped four goals in each of their last two matches, it's difficult to back against the winger contributing either a goal or an assist at Villa Park.

The players have made their way out onto the pitch at Villa Park. There's not a whole lot of noise coming from the Villa fans but the Newcastle supporters are making themselves heard! Kickoff is coming right up...

We are underway at Villa Park!

Villa have started this game with the sole intention of keeping possession until they could muster a half-hearted move forwards. They earned a free kick through Hutton but the resulting set piece was easily cleared.

Ciaran Clark has just attempted a 35-yarder that was always curling wide. Up the other end, Bunn is having to clear beach balls being thrown onto the pitch by the Holte End. It's that kind of afternoon, folks...

Newcastle are having a lot of possession down the right flank, with Townsend lining up against Toner, but so far, probing in and around the penalty area is as good as it has got.

The amount of beach balls on the pitch is already getting out of hand. The protest from the home supporters isn't supposed to start until the 74th minute! Newcastle have just had a corner but a dangerous ball is well dealt with at the back post.

We were critical of Clark's rather ambitious strike from long range but it remains the only shot on goal during the opening 15 minutes. Villa will most definitely be the happier of the two teams.

GOAL FLASH! There has been a goal at the Stadium of Light and it has gone the way of Chelsea. Huge goal. Cheers can be heard on the Newcastle end.

Better play from Newcastle who see Sissoko curl a low cross into the penalty area but Cisse failed to make the run that could have led to him converting from close range.

It's easy to see why these two teams have featured towards the bottom of the standings all season. The threat in front of goal is minimal to say the least.

CHANCE! It's not much of a chance but seeing as we are dealing with slim pickings, we are counting it. Anita delivered a neat ball in behind the Villa defence but when Cisse had the opportunity to shoot across goal, he mis-hit his attempt and it rolled through to Bunn.

It's quite funny when Lescott passes the ball to Bacuna. Boos all round from the Villa fans. That, as well as the beach balls, is the most interesting thing to happen in this football match.

Benitez is known for being a defensive-minded coach but he cannot be happy with this. While the score remains locked at 0-0, his side are really struggling to make any sort of impact in the final third. Their offensive men have barely had a kick.

A rapid burst forward from Townsend results in a succession of throw-ins being won in the corner but they come to no avail. Villa are back on the ball in the centre of the field and Newcastle are continuing to drop deep to nullify any threat that may materialise.

CHANCE! Newcastle look like they are focused on hitting Villa on the break. It's not really paying off but create their first clear-cut opening after a counter-attack that ends with Cisse volleying into the ground at the back post, leaving Bunn with the routine save.

Five minutes to go in this rather lacklustre first half. It hasn't been one for the archives.

Newcastle find themselves in a three-on-three situation but Sissoko's pass is straight into the feet of Hutton and Villa break forward until the right-sided player is hauled down.

There will be one minute of added-on time. Not sure where that has come from.

The half-time whistle has gone at Villa Park and we remain goalless. It's probably been the worst 45 minutes of football seen in the Premier League this season but let's look on the bright side - it can only get better. It should get better because Sunderland have equalised against Chelsea, meaning Newcastle should come out fighting after the restart, right?

Hopefully no-one told Benitez but Chelsea regained the lead at the Stadium of Light just before half time. I think we can probably expect more of the same tactics at the start of the second half.

We are back underway at Villa Park.

CHANCE! My oh my - Newcastle should be ahead! Townsend immediately gets down the right flank and his low cross is deflected into the path of Colback. He only has to find the target and his volley probably hits the back of the net but he blazes his effort over the crossbar.

Villa have reverted back to their possession game, which comes as no surprise because they know that they should be behind. They could do with creating something in front of goal in order to get the fans back onside - if that's possible at this stage of the season.

SUBSTITUTION! No messing from Benitez here. Aleksandar Mitrovic is on for Cisse.

That should change things up for Newcastle. Mitrovic has had his critics this season but he has scored a number of crucial goals. Another this afternoon may be enough to keep his club in the Premier League next weekend.

Villa are having to deal with more crosses into the middle but so far, they are standing firm. The Newcastle fans will be slightly more encouraged with this second half, though. Their team actually look like they want to win the game, which could not be said during the first half.

CHANCE! Clark concedes a free kick with a late challenge on Sissoko and Newcastle have a set piece in a threatening position on the right. Townsend's ball into the middle doesn't beat the first man but the ball is hooked back into the penalty area for Mitrovic, who lobs the goalkeeper but also over the bar. That was a chance!

Plenty of possession for both sides over the last few minutes but the only opportunity to come from it is a Sinclair strike that was well saved by Darlow. The assistant has already raised his flag, however.

SUBSTITUTION! Another substitution from Benitez and it's an attacking one. Ayoze Perez has replaced Tiote and it looks like Newcastle are going to go for it during the final quarter.

GOAL FLASH! Sunderland have equalised for a second time against Chelsea! If they can find a winner and Newcastle cannot net against Villa, Newcastle will be dropping into the relegation zone. Given Sunderland also have a game in hand, they have to go for it here.

CHANCE! Newcastle get forward through Townsend with the winger setting up Wijnaldum inside the penalty area. The Dutch playmaker bides his time before toe-poking the ball towards the corner but Bun makes an outstanding save down to his right.

GOAL FLASH! Sunderland now lead against Chelsea! Unbelievable! Sunderland are currently going ahead of Newcastle with a game extra to play too!

CHANCE! As that news broke through at Villa Park, Mitrovic directed a header wide of the far post. It's a terrific effort which had Bunn beaten but it went a yard wide.

After a brief break-in-play to clear the beach balls and various objects off the pitch, the action continued with Villa finally showing more intent in the final third but they are unable to create a chance. Darlow has not been forced into a save all afternoon.

Villa are pushing men forward but Villa seem determined to hold on to this point. Remember, they have lost their last 11 games in the Premier League and suffering defeat today will make it a club record.

Ayew produces a burst forward rarely seen at Villa Park this season and he earns a free kick for his side around 35 yards from goal. It's a decent ball towards the back post but Newcastle just about deal with it before Hutton lashes a volley into the stands.

There will be six minutes of added-on time. Newcastle could be relegated on Wednesday night if scores remain the same.

Perez wins a corner for Newcastle and the visitors send most of their side up. Mitrovic wins the header but Villa clear. Time is running out.

Townsend wins a corner now on the opposite side. Can Newcastle force a winner?

The answer is no as Villa clear again. Where has this fight been all season? Newcastle win a free kick in Townsend range...

It's a good free kick but straight at Bunn and Newcastle have conceded a free kick on the touchline. That could be that.

The full-time whistle goes in the West Midlands and Villa have held on to end their run of successive defeats. However, the real story is Newcastle's failure to earn the win that would have kept them outside of the relegation zone. Instead, victory for Sunderland in one of their remaining games will send Newcastle down to the Championship!

That will be all from Sports Mole for this game. Thank you for joining us and we hope that you can stick around for our coverage of the title party that is taking place at Leicester City! Goodbye for now.