19 April 2025
Aston Villa 4 Newcastle 1
Unai Emery’s side bowed out of the Champions League in midweek in an entertaining second leg against PSG, Villa had numerous chances to knock out the French champions. Following that exit, their attentions turned to try to ensure they are in the competition next season. They welcomed in-form Newcastle to Villa Park for a real six-pointer.
The Villans started the day five points behind The Magpies, who were in third place in the table. They knew that defeat to Eddie Howe’s side, or Jason Tindall as it stands in his absence, would all but extinguish any hopes they had of catching the Carabao Cup winners. However, victory would put them right back in the mix for securing a top-five spot.
Ollie Watkins returned to lead the line, having been a bench warmer for too long for the striker’s liking. He seemed to have a hunger to show his manager that was not his best decision this campaign. He was running into channels and dragging the Newcastle defence all over the place from the start of the match. The visitors were struggling to deal with him.
The high press of the hosts caused The Magpies to panic and Tonali misplaced a pass straight to Tielemans. He waited until the perfect moment before threading a pass through to Watkins wide in the box. The striker seemed to be trying to find a teammate in the middle but his effort took a massive deflection off Schar and ended in the back of the net with Pope wrong-footed.
Villa Park erupted as the ball ended in the back of the net. It was just the start Unai Emery had asked for from his players. The hosts continued to press and Watkins ran at their defence. With everyone backing off him, he unleashed a left-footed shot from a wide angle which came crashing back off the crossbar and into play. So close to doubling the lead in the first few minutes.
It was a feisty encounter with both sets of players flying into the challenges. Barnes then picked the ball up out wide and put a teasing cross into the back post. Schar met it and sent it through the legs of Martinez at the near post. The self-proclaimed best keeper in the world was looking like someone you would consider dropping from your Sunday league side.
Asensio should have restored the lead when Rogers laid it on a plate for him from the byline. The Spaniard completely missed the ball, making this look more Ballers League that Premier League. The hosts the won a free-kick out wide. It was whipped in and headed goalwards by Watkins. His effort came crashing back off the post, with under half an hour played, he could have had a hat-trick.
Emery’s side were looking like the team who had European heavyweights PSG on the ropes for much of the latter stages in midweek. Into the second-half and impressive Watkins turned provider as he played it into the path of Maatsen. He passed it into the far corner to give Aston Villa the lead once again. It almost took the roof off the stadium as the home end exploded into life.
After grabbing their second, both teams seemed to cancel each other out somewhat. This is where you have to give credit to Unai Emery. He saw where there were tired legs in the Newcastle team and brought on fresh blood in positions that could exploit this. Almost immediately they teased the defence before putting a low cross into the danger area, which Burn turned into his own goal.
He had to try and deal with it as Aston Villa had players queueing up to finish the job. It was just one of those moments where the defender wanted the ground to swallow him up. The Magpies were on the ropes and it seemed the intensity of the hosts play had left them feeling punch-drunk. The Villans looked hungry to stamp their authority on this match.
Rogers should have put the game to bed when he found himself in space, six yards out, in the middle of the goal. Pope reacted brilliantly to get an arm to it and The Magpies nervously headed away from goal. The hosts immediately recycled it and Onana drilled a shot into the top corner to secure all three points for Aston Villa, maybe getting a goal of the month contender in the process.
As this point, Newcastle just wanted to get on their bus and head back to the northeast. This was one to forget and Jason Tindall will have hoped that Eddie Howe was not watching this one. His team had buckled under the attacking threat and tempo of Aston Villa. This was the team we saw regularly last season, capable of destroying anyone who dare come to Villa Park with ambitions of victory.
The win moved Unai Emery’s side to within three points of all their rivals above them. The fans were starting to believe again, maybe Champions League football could be a regular thing for them. Late on Ramsey hit the woodwork again, making you wonder whether The Magpies were actually lucky to come away with the scoreline they did.
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