tie and blazer combination

JUST by chance I choose today to wear a black shirt and black and white tie. Bought it in a £5 deal from Asda. What an idiot! I get mistaken for one of the waiters in the press lounge and spend a few worthless seconds trying to explain that I do not have any gravy.

You'd never find Borjan Valero in an Asda combo set. (I have my humurous colleagues on the Mail sports desk to thank for that. They think they've spotted one of those 'divided at birth' funnies)

First impressions of Newcastle? If the game kicks off in ten minutes (it's 7.50pm) then the ground will be less than a third full.

Are the bars still packed with thirsty geordies?

It's fourth versus bottom. But a win for Villa tonight will send them third. United need a win to lift their spirits and continue a remarkable drop for neighbours Albion who would go second bottom.

The team sheets are long in. Where are all these changes that Martin O'Neill was predicting after the Blackburn game? No Steve Sidwell, just the rather obvious recall of John Carew for the injured Stiliyan Petrov.

James Milner gets a smattering of applause. He'll surely play on the wing.

No major surprises on the bench either. But a look at the Newcastle programme shows that the number 48 has been handed to young left-sided central defender (I could not think of a more accurate description of his standing and position if I tried) Nathan Baker.

That's odd. Not because he doesn't deserve a senior squad number, but who chose 48?

It's a bit of a steep climb from Carlos Cuellar at 29. He could have had 12, 23, 25, or 28. Or even 30.

Anyway, the players are out. Very few empty seats- other than a whole block of grey seats up in the clouds above us which I guess were set aside for Villa fans who quite understandably are at home watching it on the box.

It's amazing what a 2-1 home win over Albion can do for a club's confidence. St James' is now rocking.

Less than 20 seconds gone and Joey Barton has gifted Ashley Young a free run. Young feeds Gabby and Villa are on the attack. CRUNCH! Barton and Nigel Reo-Coker go hell for leather over a 50-50.

Milner is now getting the sort of treatment that say a Spanish or Brazilian motor racing crowd would reserve for Lewis Hamilton. Not too friendly.

11 minutes gone and Martin Laursen has nodded Barry's free-kick against the outside of the far post. On the subject of Laursen, I was phoned today by a journalist in Denmark who made the

22 minutes in and lots of fun and games, largely centering around Joey Barton who is running around like a madman. Gabby misses a sitter when he fails to connect to Milner's square ball infront of goal.

Hope they won't pay for that later, but Villa well on top as the half hour passes.

Martins is a threat for United. Appears to be playing for a move. Is he out of contract in June? Sign him up Martin.

Villa produce the move of the match. Carew feeds Barry who produces a great ball to Gabby. Now he slips it to Ashley Young- OOOOHHHH! A fine save by keeper Given with his legs from a fiercely struck shot.

Somehow Steven Taylor finds himself in the Villa area and only narrowly fails to connect to Beye's cross.

It's half-time. Could go either way. I'm not going back into the press lounge though- despite that tie being firmly tucked into the top pocket.