Aston Villa delivered a stunning performance to dismantle Newcastle United 4-1 at a rocking Villa Park, firmly thrusting themselves back into the race for a top-five finish and Champions League qualification.
Ollie Watkins opened the scoring after just 33 seconds when his shot deflected off Fabian Schär and wrong-footed Nick Pope, drawing him level with Gabriel Agbonlahor as Villa’s joint-top Premier League scorer with 74 goals.
Newcastle hit back in the 18th minute, with Schär turning scorer as he headed Harvey Barnes’ looping cross through the legs of Emiliano Martinez to equalise.
But Villa turned on the style in the second half. Watkins turned provider in the 64th minute, slipping in Ian Maatsen who calmly lifted the ball over Pope to restore Villa’s lead.
Jacob Ramsey’s low cross forced an own goal from Dan Burn nine minutes later, and substitute Amadou Onana sealed the rout with a sensational strike into the top corner from the edge of the box.
The win lifts Villa to sixth in the table, level on points with fifth-placed Nottingham Forest, while Newcastle remain third, just two points ahead of Unai Emery’s high-flying side with five games left.
Villa Park Buzzing as Emery's Men Impress Again
Villa have now won 10 of their last 11 in all competitions, and the confidence is radiating through the squad.
Watkins was a constant threat, twice denied by the woodwork before half-time – first rattling the crossbar and then glancing a header off the post.
John McGinn was also close to scoring in the second half, but his effort was saved by Pope.
Ultimately, it was a flurry of three goals in 11 minutes from Maatsen, Burn (own goal), and Onana that killed off Newcastle’s resistance.
Ramsey nearly made it 5-1, his curling effort bouncing off the inside of the post.
Villa still face tricky fixtures against Manchester City and Bournemouth, but after brushing aside an in-form Newcastle team who had scored 12 in their previous three games, they look well-equipped for a late push toward a second successive Champions League campaign.
Newcastle Fall Flat as Villa Dominate
Newcastle lacked their usual spark and struggled to cope with Villa’s intensity.
Alexander Isak, who had been in red-hot form, was kept quiet by Tyrone Mings and Ezri Konsa, with his only effort a tame shot straight at Martinez.
Wingers Jacob Murphy and Harvey Barnes offered little threat, shackled effectively by Villa full-backs Matty Cash and Maatsen.
Assistant Jason Tindall took charge once more with Eddie Howe still sidelined by illness, but there was little he could do as Villa ran riot.
A win would have taken Newcastle eight points clear of Villa, but instead, the gap is now just two.
They’ll aim to bounce back when they host Ipswich next Saturday, while Villa head to the Etihad to take on Manchester City in a crucial clash on Tuesday.