Villa aim to hold on to top spot

Aston Villa manager John Gregory has warned his side they will have to cope with a passionate crowd at St James' Park to beat Newcastle and remain top of the premier league.

Villa's excellent start to the season has seen them go top for the first time in three seasons and Gregory hopes his side can maintain that form on Saturday in front of 50,000 Newcastle fans.

"It's a tough place to go. We saw that game against Manchester United earlier in the season when the champions found it very difficult to live with Newcastle on the day," he told the club's website.

"They chase everything and work extremely hard, because if they don't, they have 50-odd thousand people that are prepared to let them know.

"We've gone into every game hoping to win it and that expectancy level has got bigger and bigger as each week has gone by. We go to Newcastle fully expecting to get a good result there."

Gregory's squad has been strengthened by the availability of England under-21 striker Darius Vassell, who limped out of last week's 3-2 defeat of Bolton.

Bobby Robson's Newcastle currently lie in sixth place but have concerns about recent results at home.

They have lost their last two matches at St James' Park, failing to find the net on both occasions, in stark contrast to the seven they have scored in their last two away games.

"We know that a win over Aston Villa could push us into the top three by Saturday night, and that's a big motivation for us," Robson said on the club's website.

"Villa are top and they'll want to stay there. They'll be looking to come here and not lose, but we've got to make sure we get all three points."

French midfielder Laurent Robert looks likely to miss out with a virus, with compatriot Olivier Bernard set to replace him.

Elsewhere on Saturday, bottom side Leicester City will be hoping to give new manager Dave Bassett a first victory at home to Sunderland, while fellow strugglers Derby County visit Middlesbrough.

Gordon Strachan's Southampton host Blackburn and West Ham take on Fulham in a keenly anticipated London derby.

On Sunday, in the biggest game of the season so far, fourth-placed Liverpool play fifth-placed Manchester United at Anfield, while second-placed Leeds United meet Tottenham Hotspur. Arsenal, in third, play Charlton Athletic.

Sunday's other match sees Chelsea, still smarting from their humiliating UEFA Cup exit to Hapoel Tel Aviv, take on struggling Ipswich Town.