Ollie Watkins inspired Aston Villa to a statement win over Newcastle in the race for Europe with a goal and an assist in a 4-1 victory.
Villa recorded their fifth consecutive league win to lift them into sixth and two points behind third-placed Newcastle, whose six-game winning run was ended, as Watkins staked his claim for the starting striker spot.
Marcus Rashford had recently been preferred up front, but Watkins, handed his first start in four games, proved his point by scoring inside the opening 33 seconds with a deflected effort before slamming a shot against the crossbar only minutes later.
Watkins gave the Newcastle defence, and particularly Fabian Schar, a torrid time, with the centre-back fortunate to only be shown a yellow card for pulling down the striker as he looked to burst through on goal.
Schar then controversially equalised for Newcastle, who were still without head coach Eddie Howe as he recovers from pneumonia, with a close-range header before Watkins struck the left post.
Villa deservedly retook the lead just after the hour mark as Watkins weighted a perfect pass for overlapping left-back Ian Maatsen to fire home as Newcastle, fielding the same team for a seventh consecutive match, faded badly.
Unai Emery then brought on Jacob Ramsey and Amadou Onana, who both instantly wrapped up the match. Ramsey’s low cross was turned into his own net by Dan Burn before Onana crashed an effort into the top-left corner.
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Amadou Onana scored a SCREAMER to put Aston Villa 4-1 up
Watkins: I was fuming after CL snub – and told Emery!
Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins speaking to Sky Sports:
“Champions League, we’ve put in a lot of hard graft in the last few years to get to that position. I played 20 minutes against PSG in both games, so I’m not going to lie – I was fuming I wasn’t playing.
“I let him (Emery) know that. He’s the manager at the end of the day. I respect his decision. But I’m not one of the players happy to sit on the bench.
“It’s something I haven’t experienced before and then to miss out on the biggest stage, you always want to play, especially in the Champions League. Me and a few others are disappointed we didn’t start the game but like I said, it’s the manager’s decision.
“We did end up beating them but obviously not across both legs. The team played really well but I wanted to be out on the pitch much longer. I wanted to be starting in the important games because I’ve played a big part to get to where we are today.”
Redknapp: A managerial masterclass from Emery!
Sky Sports’ Jamie Redknapp:
“They just dismantled the in-form team in the Premier League. From minute one, they were excellent. They got after them, they were aggressive, a great game plan.
“It was a managerial masterclass – from the team he picked to the style they played to the subs he brought on, everything Emery did he got right.”
