Absolutely nothing of note has happened yet.

It's still raining.... and that is about it.

Image source, Reuters

A bit more bad news for Aston Villa.

Just three of the previous 23 teams to be bottom of the competition on Xmas Day have stayed up.  

However...the team that were bottom of the Premier League on Christmas Day in each of the last two seasons have managed to avoid relegation that campaign (Leicester 2014-15 and Sunderland in 2013/2014). 

Image source, Reuters

A good start from the hosts.

Lose this and Aston Villa go into Christmas 11 points adrift of safety.

Perhaps a map of Championship football grounds would be a good stocking filler for Villa fans?

Tweet using #bbcfootball,, external or text on 81111 (UK only and please include a name). 

That wasn't very clever.

Leandro Bacuna throws the ball sharply back to his goalkeeper Brad Guzan. His touch is heavy and, being closed down, he has to hack the ball into touch.

Jermaine Jenas
Ex-Newcastle and Villa midfielder on BBC Radio 5 live

"I’ve seen it happen with my own hometown club, Nottingham Forest – they went down from the top flight and then again. it’s doable. Villa are holding on rather than pushing the boat out. 

"Bolton and Charlton are near the bottom of the Championship – it’s ruthless. They were both Premier League teams in recent years.

"Villa are a big club. A lot of top players would go there. Some players are wilting away, like Andros Townsend. At some point if you have aspirations for going to Euro 2016, you have to play, it doesn’t matter who for, so Roy Hodgson can remember him. 

"They need to stay in the league – you need to get players who are driven, who have a cause, something to play for. It can’t be a financial thing at all."

Image source, Getty Images

Under way here.

Image source, Reuters

Newcastle have shown signs of improvement...

They have won three out of their last five games - prior to this run they had won just one in 11.

And all four of the Magpies' league wins this season have come in games live on television, as this match will be.

BBC Newcastle
Former Newcastle United defender John Anderson on BBC Newcastle

"I don't think Newcastle have to play as well as they did against Tottenham in order to beat this Villa side. Show anything like the same effort and commitment and the Magpies should win."  

Here come the teams.

Christmas jumpers and santa hats are aplenty among the fans.

Who will be enjoying some festive cheer later this evening?

Steve Bower
BBC Match of the Day commentator

"Aston Villa will have looked at Newcastle in the last fortnight and seen the difference a victory can make.

"The trouble for Villa is they haven't managed one since the opening day of the season. Remi Garde inherited a squad bereft of any confidence and he hasn't been able to inject any with his run of two points from 15.

"They need some points on the board to provide a chink of light at the end of their dark tunnel. Newcastle's question is can they take another step forward instead of two back?

"They've beaten Liverpool and Tottenham against the odds, can they follow it against Villa when they are expected to?"

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, .

BBC Sport's prediction overlord Mark Lawrenson reckons this game is going to be 2-0 to Newcastle.

But what do you think? There is no need to scream your prediction at your computer any more - you can have your say using our Predictor.

There is a league table for how fans of each club are doing prediction-wise this season. Villa fans, you're as bad at predicting as your team are at football - rock bottom. You can turn that around though by playing the game.

 - Fifteen Premier League games without a win, their longest run without a victory in their league history.

-  No Premier League team with as few points after 16 games as Aston Villa (six) has stayed up.

- They have kept just two clean sheets in their 16 league games this season.

Happy Christmas Aston Villa fans...

It is absolutely pelting it down at Newcastle.

Rain does not do the conditions justice...

Newcastle manager Steve McClaren names an unchanged side from the team that won 2-1 at Tottenham last weekend.

Newcastle XI: Elliot, Janmaat, Mbemba, Coloccini, Dummett Sissoko, Anita, Colback, Wijnaldum, De Jong, Cisse.

Image source, .

Image source, .

Aston Villa manager Remi Garde makes one change from the side that lost 2-0 at home to Arsenal last weekend. Striker Rudy Gestede drops to the bench, and midfielder Ashley Westwood comes in.

Aston Villa XI: Guzan, Hutton, Okore, Lescott, Bacuna, Sanchez, Gueye, Westwood, Sinclair, Ayew, Veretout.

Image source, .

Hello.

While Leicester continue to stun everyone by leading the way in the Premier League, the fight to stay in the top flight is hotting up.

Aston Villa - stranded at the bottom - travel to fourth from bottom Newcastle, with both knowing the importance of a win.

This could be tense.

Things haven't been great this season have they Newcastle fans?

Still, it could be worse... just look at Aston Villa.

This match is Big - with a emphasis on the capital B.