Premier League GW22 - Aston Villa vs Newcastle

Aston Villa vs Newcastle | Picture Credits: Premier League Website

Newcastle United pulled off a stunning upset in a thrilling match at Villa Park to snap Aston Villa's 11-month home league winning streak. The Magpies, under the direction of Eddie Howe, put on a show that will reverberate across the Premier League as they defeated a formidable opponent 3-1 to end their run of four straight losses.

Aston Villa:

On the first matchday of the Premier League season, Eddie Howe's Newcastle United defeated Aston Villa 5-1 at St. James' Park. However, it's safe to assume that the teams haven't been on the same path since! Villa, who are currently two points behind leaders Liverpool going into their Wednesday match against Chelsea, are positioned fourth in the table going into this game. In addition to having the opportunity to close the distance on Tottenham in fifth place to six points and increase their chances of qualifying for the Champions League, Unai Emery's team will be eager to exact revenge for their humiliating defeat on Tyneside.

Newcastle:

Newcastle would have been considering Villa's position at the beginning of the season, but a string of injuries to important players and the club's inability to complete significant business in January as it struggles to comply with Premier League financial regulations have made the Magpies' season all but impossible to salvage. Can Newcastle find a way to revive their season at Villa Park, possibly the toughest venue in the Premier League right now? They are still without players like Nick Pope, Harvey Barnes, Joelinton, Joe Willock, Callum Wilson, and Elliot Anderson.

Line ups:

ASTON VILLA (4-4-2): Emiliano Martinez; Matty Cash, Ezri Konsa, Clement Lenglet, Alex Moreno; Youri Tielemans, Douglas Luiz, Boubacar Kamara, John McGinn; Ollie Watkins, Moussa Diaby.

ASTON VILLA SUBS: Diego Carlos, Calum Chambers, Nicolo Zaniolo, Robin Olsen, Kaine Kesler-Hayden, Leon Bailey, Jacob Ramsey, Tim Iroegbunam, James Wright.

NEWCASTLE UNITED (4-3-3): Martin Dubravka; Kieran Trippier, Fabian Schar, Sven Botman, Dan Burn; Sean Longstaff, Bruno Guimaraes, Lewis Miley; Jacob Murphy, Alexander Isak, Anthony Gordon.

NEWCASTLE UNITED: Paul Dummett, Matt Ritchie, Emil Krafth, Loris Karius, Lewis Hall, Tino Livramento, Miguel Almiron, Joe White, Travis Hernes.

Villa Park Stadium | Picture Credits: The Guardian

First Half: Schar's Brace Rocks Villa

Newcastle established the tone early on, and in the 32nd minute, they broke the tie following a string of half-hearted attempts. The visitors took a well-earned lead when Fabian Schar overcame careless Villa marking to poke Trippier's corner into the bottom-right corner. Four minutes later, Schar scored his second goal with a tap in after Jacob Murphy's initial effort ricochet off Lenglet's crossbar and into the path of the astonished hosts. The Magpies established their superiority, and Villa Park was left in silence.

With a dominating 2-0 advantage, Newcastle was up 2-0 at the break. The Magpies exhibited agile offensive play and unwavering defence, making the second half an uphill task for Unai Emery's team. Villa's stronghold appeared unbreakable, however the Magpies had expertly broken through the barriers.

Second Half Drama: Newcastle's Counterattack Stuns Villa

Newcastle persisted in their attack, and they delivered a potentially game-changing blow in the 52nd minute. After Lewis Miley intercepted the ball, the opposition counterattacked incredibly quickly. Anthony Gordon found Miguel Almiron, who sent in a low cross that was greeted by Jacob Murphy. Alex Moreno made a frantic attempt to clear the ball, but it ended up in the net, giving Newcastle a 3-0 lead.

In the 71st minute, Ollie Watkins gave rise to dreams of a comeback. Watkins met Leon Bailey's well-placed cross into the six-yard box after John McGinn's accurate feed to him reduced the score to 3-1. The Villa supporters got behind their squad, but shortly after, a controversial offside call kept Watkins from scoring a second goal.

Newcastle survived despite Watkins' goal and the VAR dispute. Schar nearly completed a hat-trick, but Emiliano Martinez made an important save. Schar has already secured a brace. Martin Dubravka denied Sean Longstaff as Newcastle wasted a chance to score a fourth goal in the last moments.

Newcastle's Statement Victory

After winning emphatically and moving up to seventh place in the Premier League, Newcastle celebrated as the full-time whistle blew throughout Villa Park. The Magpies' resiliency and clinical edge were demonstrated by Fabian Schar's brace and a skillfully performed counterattack. Villa's stronghold had collapsed, and Eddie Howe's team had left a lasting impression on a hostile field. With a convincing win, the Magpies had not only broken their losing skid but also heralded their return.

Schar scored and gave Newcastle a 1-0 lead in the game | Picture Credits: Premier League Website

Schar scored one more goal and doubled Newcastle's lead | Picture Credits: Premier League Website

Watkins scored a goal and tired to keep Villa's hopes alive | Picture Credits: Premier League Website