Fabian Schar’s quick-fire first-half brace helped Newcastle win 3-1 away to fourth-placed Aston Villa at Villa Park.
Schar latched onto two defensive mistakes by Villa in the 32nd and 36th minutes respectively to smash in twice from close-range.
Alex Moreno deflected Newcastle’s third goal into his own net as he got the final touch on Jacob Murphy’s 52nd minute shot at the far-right post.
Ollie Watkins denied Eddie Howe’s Magpies a clean sheet as he fired in a 71st minute consolatory goal from Leon Bailey’s low cross.
Villa remain fourth in the Premier League table following their first defeat of 2024 but Newcastle moved up to seventh in the table, albeit 11 points off the Villains.
With five clean sheets in five of their last six matches across all competitions combined between Villa and Newcastle, it was little surprise that this match proved to be a cagey start with both defences keeping one another quiet.
Eddie Howe’s Magpies eventually created the first proper opportunity in the 20th minute as Anthony Gordon was unleashed up the middle, but Emiliano Martinez made a crucial block from which Lewis Miley curled wide following Gordon’s pass upon regathering possession.
Matty Cash produced Villa’s first shot in the 26th minute after he collected Douglas Luiz’s pass but Martin Dubravka saved his shot from close-range.
Fans would of been forgiven for thinking that this first half was destined to finish goalless until Newcastle won a 32nd minute corner, from which Schar escaped his marker – Watkins and nipped in front of Ezri Konsa to poke in the opening goal.
Schar again got lucky from another set piece four minutes later as a corner was cleared to Gordon who struck the crossbar, and evaded Martinez’s grasp to leave the Swiss defender free to smash in his and Newcastle’s second goal after he reacted quickest to the loose ball.
Newcastle however were struck another injury blow in what has been a difficult season so far as Alexander Isak was substituted in the 43rd minute, with Miguel Almiron brought on in his place after rumours of a move to Saudi Arabia failed to materialise.
Isak’s injury also meant that Newcastle were left with no senior striker match-fit with just over 48 hours until the January transfer window shut.
Villa meanwhile missed a late chance to reduce their deficit at half-time after John McGinn nodded over from a corner in the fourth minute of injury-time.
Unai Emery’s Villains almost failed to learn from their first-half defensive sloppiness as Konsa nodded Kieran Trippier’s 48th minute free-kick into the air, with Martinez luckily gathering the dipping ball to prevent an own-goal.
Watkins almost won a penalty two minutes later after he drew a foul from Newcastle’s goalkeeper – Martin Dubravka as he broke through into the box, yet referee – John Brooks waved away his penalty appeals.
That failed opportunity soon proved costly as Newcastle broke forward on the counter two minutes later with Almiron allowed to find space on the left, as he bent in a low cross which found Murphy to turn into the net at the far-right post via Moreno’s deflection.
Villa soon depserately set about trying to stage an unlikely comeback but Dubravka constntly thwarted Watkins’ shots, until the England international instead teed up Cash and forced Dubravka to make a crucial punch away across the face of goal in the 69th minute.
Watkins ultimately wasn’t denied two minutes later as Bailey latched onto an over-the-top ball and fed a low cross towards the ex Brentford player, who duly lashed in to reduce Villa’s deficit.
Villa almost set up a grandstand finish a further two minutes later as Bailey once again teed up Watkins to this time chip in over Dubravka, yet his second goal was quickly ruled out for offside as Bailey made his pass.
Bailey was next to try and find Villa’s second goal as he latched onto fellow substitute, Nicolo Zaniolo’s backpass but rifled over the bar from the edge of the box in the 75th minute.
Newcastle ultimately saw out the game despite Martinez’s block of Sean Longstaff’s 89th minute shot, with Howe’s Magpies now unbeaten in their last three away matches in all competitions and the first team to beat Villa on their own turf in a league game this season.
What’s Next?
Villa next will head to relegation-battling Sheffield United on Saturday 3 February in a 5:30pm GMT kick-off at Bramall Lane.
Newcastle meanwhile host Luton earlier that day at 3pm at St James’ Park as Rob Edwards’ Hatters head to Tyneside off the back of a ruthless 4-0 home victory against Brighton.
Teams
Aston Villa: Emiliano Martinez, Matty Cash, Ezri Konsa, Clement Lenglet, Alex Moreno, John McGinn, Boubacar Kamara (Ramsey 63′), Douglas Luiz, Youri Tielemans (Zaniolo 63′), Moussa Diaby (Bailey 62′), Ollie Watkins
Substitutes: Robin Olsen, Wright, Diego Carlos, Calum Chambers, Nicolo Zaniolo, Kaine Kesler-Hayden, Leon Bailey, Jacob Ramsey, Tim Iroegbunam
Newcastle: Martin Dubravka, Kieran Trippier, Fabian Schar, Sven Botman, Dan Burn, Bruno Guimaraes, Sean Longstaff, Lewis Miley (Livramento 75′), Jacob Murphy, Anthony Gordon, Alexander Isak (Almiron 43′)
Substitutes: Loris Karius, Paul Dummett, Matt Ritchie, Emil Krafth, Lewis Hall, Tino Livramento, Miguel Almiron, Joe White, Travis Hernes
Referee – John Brooks
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