Aston Villa secured a statement victory over Newcastle in the Premier League, winning 4-1 at home. The win, which was Villa’s fifth consecutive league victory, lifted them into sixth place and just two points behind third-placed Newcastle.
According to Sky Sports, Ollie Watkins inspired the victory with a goal and an assist. The striker, who was handed his first start in four games, scored 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. Sky Sports reports that Schar then controversially equalised for Newcastle with a close-range header before Watkins struck the left post.
However, 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. Unai Emery’s side then wrapped up the match with two late goals, courtesy of Jacob Ramsey and Amadou Onana.
The win marked a significant step forward for Villa in their bid for European football next season. According to Sky Sports, Emery said: “We were focused on this match. They want to be in Europe and fight for the Champions League position. Completely happy with how we responded. We can’t waste time, we are in our best moment.”
Emery also praised Watkins’ performance, saying: “He played fantastic. Last week he helped us out too. On Tuesday, he played 20 minutes. His commitment is always high to get to his best and this is what we want and need.”
Watkins himself was delighted with the win, but also expressed his frustration at being benched in Villa’s Champions League quarter-final against Paris Saint-Germain. As reported by Sky Sports, Watkins told the publication: “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.”
Sky Sports’ Jamie Redknapp praised Emery’s tactics, saying: “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.”
Newcastle assistant manager Jason Tindall, meanwhile, said: “When we look back again, maybe it was a step too far for the same group of players. We’ve had three games in six days and you’re going to play a top Villa side. We did OK in the second half but around 60 minutes it was a step too far.”
The result has significant implications for the Premier League table, with Villa moving into sixth place and Newcastle dropping to third. As reported by Sky Sports, the two teams will be looking to continue their strong form in the coming weeks.
In terms of player performance, Watkins was the standout star for Villa, scoring one goal and assisting another. Sky Sports reports that the striker has now scored 74 Premier League goals for Villa, the joint-most of any player for the club in the competition.
The win also marked a significant improvement in Villa’s goal difference, with the team now having scored 44 goals in their last 10 games. According to Sky Sports, Emery’s side will be looking to continue their strong form in the coming weeks.
As the Premier League season enters its final stretch, Villa will be looking to secure a European spot for next season. With a strong squad and a talented manager in Emery, the team will be confident of achieving their goal. As reported by Sky Sports, the team will be looking to build on their recent form and push for a top-six finish.
Overall, the match was a significant victory for Villa, and a statement win in their bid for European football next season. With a strong performance from Watkins and a tactical masterclass from Emery, the team will be confident of achieving their goal. As reported by Sky Sports, the team will be looking to build on their recent form and push for a top-six finish.
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