Newcastle United soared into fifth place in the Premier League table with a dominant 3-0 victory over Aston Villa at St. James’ Park. The Magpies capitalized on an early goal from Anthony Gordon and took full advantage of Jhon Duran’s first-half red card to secure their fourth consecutive league win.
Match Recap
First Half
Newcastle wasted no time asserting their dominance. Within two minutes, Anthony Gordon unleashed a stunning strike from the edge of the box that flew into the top corner, leaving Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez rooted to the spot.
Aston Villa struggled to find any rhythm, and their frustrations boiled over in the 32nd minute. Striker Jhon Duran was sent off for violent conduct after stamping on Newcastle defender Fabian Schar. Reduced to 10 men, Villa found themselves on the back foot for the remainder of the game.
Second Half
Newcastle’s pressure paid off in the 59th minute when Alexander Isak doubled their lead. A perfectly weighted through ball from Bruno Guimaraes found Jacob Murphy, who squared it to Isak for an easy tap-in. VAR later denied Newcastle a third goal when Guimaraes was ruled offside.
In stoppage time, Joelinton capped off the performance with a sensational curling effort from the edge of the box, sealing a well-deserved victory for the Magpies.
Player Ratings
Newcastle United (4-3-3)
- GK: Martin Dubravka (6.6/10)
Rarely tested but dealt with Villa’s few attempts comfortably. - RB: Kieran Trippier (7.0/10)
Provided leadership and solid defensive cover. - CB: Fabian Schar (7.6/10)
Strong at the back and drew the foul that led to Duran’s red card. - CB: Dan Burn (7.3/10)
Commanding presence in defense. - LB: Lewis Hall (7.4/10)
Impressive work rate on the left flank. - CM: Sandro Tonali (7.6/10)
Controlled the tempo in midfield. - CM: Bruno Guimaraes (7.1/10)
Excellent passing, including a key assist for Isak’s goal. - CM: Joelinton (8.5/10)
Player of the Match. Scored a fantastic goal and dominated the midfield. - RW: Jacob Murphy (8.0/10)
Energetic performance, providing the assist for Isak’s goal. - ST: Alexander Isak (8.0/10)
Clinical finish for Newcastle’s second goal. - LW: Anthony Gordon (7.9/10)
Stunning opener and a constant threat.
Substitutes:
- Matt Targett (5.9), Joe Willock (6.0), Harvey Barnes (6.1), Lewis Miley (6.3), William Osula (N/A).
Aston Villa (4-2-3-1)
- GK: Emi Martinez (6.2/10)
Made some good saves but was beaten by two world-class strikes. - RB: Matty Cash (5.8/10)
Struggled defensively before being substituted. - CB: Ezri Konsa (6.1/10)
Decent defensive effort despite Villa’s struggles. - CB: Pau Torres (5.9/10)
Overwhelmed by Newcastle’s attack. - LB: Lucas Digne (6.6/10)
One of Villa’s better performers, offered some attacking threat. - CM: Boubacar Kamara (6.6/10)
Tried to hold the midfield together. - CM: Amadou Onana (6.2/10)
Lacked composure under pressure. - AM: Youri Tielemans (6.1/10)
Anonymous performance before being subbed at halftime. - RW: John McGinn (6.2/10)
Worked hard but couldn’t influence the game. - ST: Jhon Duran (4.8/10)
Sent off for a reckless challenge, leaving his team in trouble. - LW: Morgan Rogers (6.4/10)
Showed glimpses of promise but lacked end product.
Substitutes:
- Ollie Watkins (5.7), Kosta Nedeljkovic (6.1), Ross Barkley (5.9), Leon Bailey (6.0), Emiliano Buendia (6.3).
Key Takeaways
- Newcastle’s Dominance: The Magpies were relentless, capitalizing on their numerical advantage and showcasing their attacking prowess.
- Villa’s Disappointment: Duran’s red card was a turning point, leaving Villa unable to mount a meaningful response.
- Joelinton Shines: The Brazilian midfielder was the standout performer, combining physicality with technical brilliance.
What’s Next?
- Newcastle: The Magpies, now fifth, will look to maintain their momentum as they push for European qualification.
- Aston Villa: Slipping to ninth, Villa need to regroup and address their disciplinary issues to stay competitive.
Final Score: Newcastle United 3-0 Aston Villa
