Here are the stats ahead of Newcastle United’s Premier League encounter with Aston Villa at St James’ Park this afternoon and they emphasise just how important the presence of Newcastle captain Fabricio Coloccini is…
• Newcastle beat Blackburn 2-0 in their last Premier League game thanks to a Scott Dann own goal and a late second from Gabriel Obertan.
• Obertan’s goal was his first in the league this season, although the winger has contributed three assists and completed 34 dribbles delivering 26 crosses.
• Tim Krul saved a penalty to keep Newcastle ahead in the game. That was Krul’s 116th save of the season, the 7th highest number in the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index, with Krul ranked as the third best keeper.
• Krul is one of five Newcastle players ranked in the top 50 in the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index, along with Demba Ba, Danny Simpson, Ryan Taylor and Fabricio Coloccini.
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• Coloccini has won an impressive 90% of tackles attempted this season, making 32 clearances and 57 interceptions, along with 20 blocks (the joint 7th highest in the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index).
• Danny Guthrie covered the most ground in that game with 6.16 miles.
• Villa came back from 2-0 down to secure a draw against QPR in their last game.
• Darren Bent scored for the third Barclays Premier League game in succession to make it nine goals this season, and Charles N’Zogbia also scored with his 1st of the season despite having previously had 29 efforts at goal.
• Bent had five efforts at goals in the game against QPR, 3 on target and 2 off target, the highest number of any player in the last round of games.
• Stiliyan Petrov completed 51 passes in his opponent’s half in the game against QPR, more than any other player in the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index.
• N’Zogbia also covered the most ground for Villa with 5.93 miles.
• Despite scoring an own goal, Warnock also attempted and won more tackles than any other player in the last round of games (10, attempted, 8 won).
Data courtesy of the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index, the official player rating index of the Barclays Premier League.
