Aston Villa produced a sensational performance to beat Newcastle United at Villa Park and lay down a marker in the race for the top five and Champions League qualification.
Ollie Watkins became Villa’s joint-top Premier League goalscorer – alongside Gabriel Agbonlahor – on 74 when his shot took a wicked deflection off Fabian Schar after just 33 seconds.
Newcastle levelled in the 18th minute when Schar met Harvey Barnes’ deep, curling cross and headed through the legs of Villa keeper Emiliano Martinez.
But in the 64th minute Watkins sent in full-back Ian Maatsen who deservedly restored Villa’s lead with a cool dink over the goalkeeper.
Villa added a third in the 73rd minute when Jacob Ramsey’s pass across goal bounced in off Newcastle defender Dan Burn.
And a fourth came moments later through substitute Amadou Onana’s stunning strike which found the top corner from the edge of the box.
Villa’s convincing win lifts them to sixth in the table, level on points with fifth-placed Nottingham Forest.
Newcastle remain third but are now just two points ahead of Villa with five games of the season remaining.
Villa Park bouncing after big win
Villa Park is packed full of positivity these days. Unai Emery’s side have now won 10 of their past 11 games in all competitions to propel themselves back into Champions League qualification contention.
Their first half was inspired by Watkins who twice hit the woodwork, clattering an effort against the underside of the crossbar at 1-0, and thumping a header against the post at 1-1.
In the second half Villa always looked the likelier to score and John McGinn came close to putting them ahead but he was denied by Newcastle keeper Nick Pope when through on goal.
Three goals in 11 minutes from Maatsen, the unfortunate Burn and Onana put the result beyond doubt though. And shortly after they went 4-1 up, Ramsey nearly made it five but his shot struck the inside of the post.
Villa face fellow European hopefuls Manchester City and Bournemouth in the run-in but after beating a Newcastle team that had won six on the bounce, and scored 12 goals across their past three games, few would bet against Emery’s side reaching the Champions League for a second successive season.
Isak and company fail to fire
Newcastle never really clicked and were blown away by Villa’s energy.
Alexander Isak was well-marshalled by defenders Tyrone Mings and Ezri Konsa and was pretty much limited to one tame, curling effort straight at Emiliano Martinez with the score at 1-1.
Tricky wingers Jacob Murphy and Harvey Barnes were likewise dealt with by Villa’s full-backs Matty Cash and Maatsen.
Assistant manager Jason Tindall once again deputised for manager Eddie Howe who continues to recover from pneumonia.
Their side could have gone eight points clear of Villa with a win. Instead their advantage over the Villans was cut to just two points.
Newcastle will hope to respond when they host Ipswich next Saturday, while Villa are away at Manchester City on Tuesday.
