26 December 2024
Newcastle 3 Aston Villa 0
It was a clash of the top four contenders at St James’ Park as Eddie Howe’s side welcomed Aston Villa to town. The visitors were in confident mood after beating Man City in their last game, although this is something sides are finding all too easy to do at the moment. The Magpies knew victory would see them cut the gap to the sides above them as they chase those coveted Champions League spots.
It was a scrappy start to the game as both sides looked to flex their attacking muscles. Joelinton then played a brilliant pass out wide to Gordon. He cut inside onto his right foot and struck a superb effort into the far corner. Martinez was at full-stretch but could get nowhere near it. St James’ Park erupted into a cauldron of noise with only two minutes of the game gone.
Emery’s side had made the worst start possible. This is never an easy place to visit, even more so when chasing the game. The visitors came forward as McGinn played it into Duran with his back to goal. He turned his marker and was hauled to the floor. The referee awarded Aston Villa a free-kick in a very dangerous position.
Digne stepped up to take it and looked to get one over the wall into the bottom corner. Dubravka had a lot of ground to cover but did well to turn the effort around the post. He was proving to be a more than competent stand-in for the injured Pope. Emery was going berserk on the touchline, demanding more from his players, not happy with what was unfolding in front of him.
Then came a moment that was to prove a game-changer. Duran chased down the ball but as Schar cleared it, the Villa striker seemed to stamp on the Newcastle defender. It was reviewed and deemed that it was a red card offence and the Villa striker was given his marching orders. Suddenly an uphill struggle seemed like scaling Mount Everest.
Duran was not happy with the decision and booted a water bottle in anger on the touchline. Newcastle almost immediately rubbed salt in the wound. As they came forward down the right, Trippier picked out Tonali in the box. His shot seemed to be heading in the far corner but Martinez made a superb save to turn it around the post.
The sides headed in at the break with the hosts dominating this game. You would not have fancied being in that Aston Villa dressing room, Emery looked like he was ready to explode. He would have to come up with something special for his side to turn this game around. Going down to ten men against this rampant Newcastle side, you could not see anything but a Magpies’ victory.
Eddie Howe’s side continued to press after the interval. Aston Villa were on the ropes but just about hanging on in this game. At this stage, you felt a second goal for the hosts would put this game to bed. The visitors looked like they knew this also as they struggled to contain The Magpies. The atmosphere in St James’ Park was electric, willing their side to score.
Then came the moment Aston Villa had feared. Murphy got down the right wing and put a teasing ball across the six yard box. Isak made his move and slotted home to double Newcastle’s lead. It was no more than they had deserved and nobody could see anything but a Magpies’ win from this position. Emery looked like he wanted to be somewhere else on the touchline.
The Swede thought he had put the game to bed when he slotted home from close range but immediately the flag went up for offside. You could hear a collective groan in the stadium as the fans knew this would involve lines being drawn and a lengthy wait. VAR agreed with the onfield decision and the hosts were denied a third goal.
As good of a keeper as Martinez is, he always has a blunder in his locker. As Villa looked to play the ball out from the back, he gifted a pass to Joelinton. His shot was blocked and rebounded to a Newcastle player but their volley came crashing back off the crossbar. The Aston Villa keeper breathed a sigh of relief that his error had not led to a goal.
Aston Villa were becoming the architects of their own downfall. As a ball came into the back post, Barnes headed it goalwards. Konsa was there to clear off the line but drilled the ball into Guimaraes and into the back of the net. VAR was to save the visitors again however as it was deemed to have come off the Brazilian’s arm.
Deep into added time a loose pass from Onana gifted the ball to Joelinton. He headed into the box before bending a shot into the far corner with Martinez just a spectator. It was a comprehensive win for The Magpies and sent a warning out to the rest of the league that Eddie Howe’s side had their sights set on a place in the top four this season.
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