All good streaks come to an end. And for Newcastle United, that end came in the worst possible moment – in their big race for the Champions League spot. After five consecutive wins in the league, the Magpies were smashed by Aston Villa and the coach who rejected them and the battle between Newcastle, Villa, Nottingham Forest, Chelsea and Manchester City continues. After a 4-1 win over the Magpies, Unai Emery‘s men moved to the sixth place, while Newcastle remained third, but now the difference between them is only two points and the home team have the easier fixture list until the end.Ollie Watkins is the first ever Aston Villa player to score 15+ goals in three consecutive Premier League seasons.And he’s equalled Gabby Agbonlahor as Villa’s highest ever goalscorer in the Premier League (74). 👏 pic.twitter.com/RTCRbnZnn0— Squawka (@Squawka) April 19, 2025 With Eddie Howe in the hospital, his assistant Jason Tindall was in the dugout for three matches and won two of them, but Emery is too good for him and his team is much better than Manchester United or Crystal Palace. Two major things contributed to Villa‘s deserved victory: the experience of Emery and the size of the squads. The Spaniard managed to lift his team psychologically after a tough loss from PSG in the Champions League and he had more quality players on the bench, as Newcastle, due to PSR rules, haven‘t bough a first-team player for the last thee transfer windows. In the last thee matches between these two teams, Newcastle won all three, but this was Emery‘s revenge.🚨🏴 GOAL | Aston Villa 2-1 Newcastle | Ian MaatsenIAN MAATSEN HAS GIVEN ASTON VILLA THE LEAD !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!pic.twitter.com/XVKchPfgQo— Tekkers Foot (@tekkersfoot) April 19, 2025 It was a furious first half with two goals, four excellent chances (including two crossbars) and lots of dynamics. The home team started furiously and with a bit of luck took advantage after 33 seconds. Ollie Watkins took the ball but his shot hit Schar and changed direction so Pope couldn‘t do anything. Watkins nearly scored a brace in the fifth minute, but his thunderbolt hit the crossbar. Villa‘s striker literally tormented Schar in the first half, not only with the goal and chances, but with his running too. He ran in spaces and dribbled a slower (and older) Schar and he nearly got him expelled in the 13th minute, when the Swiss defender made a faul as the last man. But after another good Villa opportunity (Pope saved Cash‘s shot), Schar got his revenge. Harvey Barnes came from the left and Newcastle defender used his cross to equalize through Emi Martinez‘s legs: 1-1. But the home team continue to press and Watkins hit another crossbar shortly afterwards. Rodgers could have scored as well, but Pope was on the spot to save it.WHAT A GOAL FROM ONANA!!!!! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/I3udXiGFql— The Screenshot Lad (@thescreenlad) April 19, 2025 The same Villa player assisted to his captain McGinn in the 50th minute, but again Nick Pope was there to save his goal. The Scotsman had another go in the 60th minute, but the scenario was the same: great shot, but Pope saved it. Usually after so many missed chances any team gets punished, but not Villa. Newcastle didn‘t do anything in the second half and the hosts managed a second goal in the 64 minute, when Maadsen ran from behind and without any disturbance scored the second one for Villa. From that point on it was a blitzkrieg by the home team. Villa scored two goals in the space of two minutes and 15 minutes from time, it was all over. Just like Schar scored an own goal in the first, Dan Burn did the same in the 73rd minute, before a substitute Onana blasted the ball in the top right corner for the final 4-1. PREMIER LEAGUE – MATCHDAY 33SaturdayBrentford – Brighton 4-2 (1-1)/Mbuemo 9, 48, Wissa 58, Norgaard 90+5 – Welbeck 45+3, Mitoma 81/Crystal Palace – Bournemouth 0-0Everton – Man.City 0-2 (0-0)/O’Riley 85, Kovacic 90+3/West Ham – Southampton 1-1 (1-0)/Bowen 47 – Ugochukwu 90’+3/Aston Villa – Newcastle 4-1 (1-1)/Watkins 1, Maatsen 64, Burn (og) 73, Onana 75 – Schar 18/Sunday16:00: (2.95) Fulham (3.50) Chelsea (2.50)16:00: (7.25) Ipswich (4.40) Arsenal (1.45)16:00: (2.30) Man.Utd. (3.40) Wolverhampton (3.10)18:30: (12.0) Leicester (6.50) Liverpool (1.22)Monday22:00: (2.55) Tottenham (3.50) Nott.Forest (2.85)***odds are subject to change***
