30 January 2024 , 22:25
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Fortress Villa Park was demolished as the Magpies re-discovered their away-day mojo.
Unai Emery's side hadn't lost at home in the Premier League for almost a year but were on the end of a hiding for the second time this season at the hands of Eddie Howe's men.
Fabian Schar netted twice from corners inside three first-half minutes to break Villa’s resistance and then Jacob Murphy slid home shortly after the interval.
Emery came away from the north-east on the opening day of the campaign having seen his team concede five and it could have been a similar story last night as Newcastle recorded only their second league win away from St James's Park.
Villa were looking to keep up the pressure on the Premier League big guns but found themselves blown out of the water by the Toon's ruthlessness going forward.
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It was only by good fortune that they weren’t behind, long before Schar opened the scoring. Villa keeper Emi Martinez and his back four had been stretched repeatedly and only a series of saves and timely blocks kept the home goal intact.
In what was the first clear-cut chance, Anthony Gordon charged onto a call over the top, beat two defenders and Martinez's right leg kept it out of the net.
Then, Jacob Murphy took a pot-shot that was spilled by Martinez who needed Clement Lenglet to throw himself in the way of Sean Longstaff's follow-up.
At the other end, Moussa Diaby chose to pass instead of shoot when well-placed and Matty Cash's snap shot was straight at Martin Dubravka. It was just a matter of time before one of the defences gave way. It was Villa's.
Fabian Schar was on target for Toon (AFP via Getty Images)They were fortunate not to have conceded from the chance which resulted in the corner that led to the goal. Gordon again caused problems, Boubacar Kamara's outstretched leg sent it out of play.
It was a brief respite. Trippier centred from the right, Schar battled his way past Douglas Luiz and poked it into the bottom corner. It was his first Premier League goal of the season. He didn't have to wait long for his second - another three minutes, to be precise.
Villa at least managed to defend the next Trippier corner. Alex Moreno nodded the ball out to the edge of the area and Longstaff tried his luck on the full. Lenglet stuck out a leg and this time fortune did not favour the hosts. The ball crashed into the underside of the crossbar and Schar tapped in his second.
The hosts were further behind seven minutes after the re-start. Cash was robbed of possession on the right flank and Gordon scampered away with sub Miguel Almiron providing support.
He found his colleague who provided a lovely assist for Murphy to bundle home at the far post. Villa made it a rousing finish after pulling one back with 20 minutes left.
Leon Bailey had looked lively after coming on as a sub just after the hour and the Jamaica international latched on to John McGinn's pass and crossed for Ollie Watkins to claim his 50th Premier League goal.
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Watkins then thought he had claimed a second within a couple of minutes, only for the roars of the Villa Park crowd to be strangled after it was cancelled for a marginal offside decision.