Steve Bruce is no stranger to having things hurled at him at Villa Park – and the kitchen sink might be the next thing flying in his direction as the under-fire Newcastle manager takes on his former club.
Remarkably, more than two years have passed since a disgruntled fan threw a cabbage at then Villa boss Bruce before what proved to be his final game in charge, a 3-3 draw at Preston.
While it was harsh on Bruce – who gets far more stick than he perhaps merits – the unhappiness of Villa fans over the direction they were heading under him is very much mirrored by Toon followers now.
Embattled Newcastle – near the bottom in all sorts of performance statistics this season and drawing the wrath of their socially-distanced support – take on a Villa team very much operating at the opposite end of the spectrum.
In truth, the road Villa have taken since Bruce's departure does not reflect greatly on him – successor Dean Smith has transformed a club treading water in the Sky Bet Championship into one of the easiest teams on the eye in the top flight.
Odds correct at 0920 GMT (22/01/21)
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