Newcastle Utd’s form deserted them at Villa Park on an afternoon that they will quickly want to forget as they went down to a 3:0 defeat to a very impressive Aston Villa.
The contrast in how the two sides planned to go about their business was evident in the first thirty seconds when striker Olly Watkins hit the woodwork with goalkeeper Nick Pope well beaten.
Watkins is the Premier leagues in form striker, and it was quickly evident that this was going to be anything but an easy afternoon for the leagues tightest defence.
Villa quickly settled into a slick pass and move game that seem to bewilder the Newcastle back line and with little protection coming from their midfield they were constantly exposed by Villa’s neat play.
Villa were proving to be quicker both in pass and thought and took the lead on 11 minutes when Jacob Ramsey latched on to a lovely knockdown from Watkins to fire home from 12 yards.
Minutes later it was Watkins again, this time forcing a good save from Pope with a shot from a tight angle. Newcastle failed to clear and the ball fell to Moreno whose clever square pass fell once again to Ramsey who rattled the crossbar.
Moreno was giving Trippier a torrid time down the Villa left with some insightful runs and link up play. The Spaniard looked more than value for the £12m paid for his services when Unai Emery made him his first signing when he picked him up from Real Betis back in January.
And having gone in level at half time it was more of the same in the second half as Moreno Watkins and Ramsey, ably joined by Buendia and a rejuvenated and re-invigorated John Mc Ginn continued to take the game to their opponents.
On the sixtieth minute Moreno unlocked the magpies’ defensive line with a beautiful pass allowing Watkins to latch on and fire home, only to be denied by VAR.
Then two minutes later some fine play from McGinn who slipped the ball to Moreno who in turn found Watkins ten yards out.
Watkins turn and shot slid into the back of the net and as Watkins ran to lap up the adulation of the villa supporters, the onlooking England manager Gareth Southgate must have been decidedly impressed. That was Watkins 12th goal since the world cup break and one he thoroughly deserved for his all-round play.
Watkins made it 3-0 on 83 minutes when McGinn and Buendia once again combined linked up. The Argentinian squared to Watkins who planted the ball into the far corner.
Aston Villa were fully deserving of their win, proving to be better in every position.
For Newcastle it was very much a day to forget.
The contrast in how the two sides planned to go about their business was evident in the first thirty seconds when striker Olly Watkins hit the woodwork with goalkeeper Nick Pope well beaten.
Watkins is the Premier leagues in form striker, and it was quickly evident that this was going to be anything but an easy afternoon for the leagues tightest defence.
Villa quickly settled into a slick pass and move game that seem to bewilder the Newcastle back line and with little protection coming from their midfield they were constantly exposed by Villa’s neat play.
Villa were proving to be quicker both in pass and thought and took the lead on 11 minutes when Jacob Ramsey latched on to a lovely knockdown from Watkins to fire home from 12 yards.
Minutes later it was Watkins again, this time forcing a good save from Pope with a shot from a tight angle. Newcastle failed to clear and the ball fell to Moreno whose clever square pass fell once again to Ramsey who rattled the crossbar.
Moreno was giving Trippier a torrid time down the Villa left with some insightful runs and link up play. The Spaniard looked more than value for the £12m paid for his services when Unai Emery made him his first signing when he picked him up from Real Betis back in January.
And having gone in level at half time it was more of the same in the second half as Moreno Watkins and Ramsey, ably joined by Buendia and a rejuvenated and re-invigorated John Mc Ginn continued to take the game to their opponents.
On the sixtieth minute Moreno unlocked the magpies’ defensive line with a beautiful pass allowing Watkins to latch on and fire home, only to be denied by VAR.
Then two minutes later some fine play from McGinn who slipped the ball to Moreno who in turn found Watkins ten yards out.
Watkins turn and shot slid into the back of the net and as Watkins ran to lap up the adulation of the villa supporters, the onlooking England manager Gareth Southgate must have been decidedly impressed. That was Watkins 12th goal since the world cup break and one he thoroughly deserved for his all-round play.
Watkins made it 3-0 on 83 minutes when McGinn and Buendia once again combined linked up. The Argentinian squared to Watkins who planted the ball into the far corner.
Aston Villa were fully deserving of their win, proving to be better in every position.
For Newcastle it was very much a day to forget.
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