Aston Villa responded to their Champions League heartbreak in scintillating fashion with a 4-1 battering of Premier League top-five rivals Newcastle United at Villa Park.
After Unai Emery refused to consider Ollie Watkins for Champions League quarter-final starts, the Villa boss recalled the England striker to his XI on Saturday, and a penny for his thoughts when Watkins opened the scoring inside just 33 seconds.
The striker's first-minute opener - which also saw him become Villa's joint-record Premier League goalscorer with Gabriel Agbonlahor - took a nick off Fabian Schar on its way in, but Newcastle's Swiss defender made amends with an equalising header just before the 20-minute mark.
Schar's intervention would not trigger a sustained Newcastle revival, though, as the Magpies had their wings clipped in a second-half slaughter, where Ian Maatsen's first Premier League strike, Dan Burn's own goal and an Amadou Onana stunner put Villa out of sight.
Emery's men have now surged into sixth place in the Premier League table, only trailing Nottingham Forest on goal difference, Manchester City by one point and Newcastle by two as the Champions League race hots up.
SPORTS MOLE'S VERDICT
© Imago
Neither Villa nor Newcastle may be one of the traditional 'Big Six' clubs, but Saturday's evening kickoff had the makings of this weekend's main event, and so it proved in an Easter extravaganza.
After having their hearts broken in Europe in midweek, Villa's need to secure a top-five finish is even more pressing, although a rampant Newcastle side winning and scoring for fun were not expected to prove easy pickings.
However, the hosts exposed some specific frailties from the Jason Tindall-led Magpies, who were vulnerable down their right time and time again and conceded Villa's third and fourth goals after failing to win second balls.
There is something about Villa Park that visiting teams just cannot shake - the Lions have not lost at home in the Premier League since August - and the scoreline reflected the hosts' utter dominance on the day.
Newcastle's Champions League destiny remains in their own hands, though, and the Magpies must now prove that Saturday's pitiful performance was a one-off rather than the start of a worrying decline.
ASTON VILLA VS. NEWCASTLE HIGHLIGHTS
Ollie Watkins goal vs. Newcastle (1st min, Aston Villa 1-0 Newcastle)
"The PERFECT start for Aston Villa" 🎙️
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 19, 2025
Ollie Watkins scores his 15th goal of the season 🙌 pic.twitter.com/7Q0KpKr0vG
Now that is how you respond to a starting XI snub! Watkins was overlooked for starts in both Champions League ties with PSG, but the England international needs just 33 seconds to make his mark.
Latching onto another Youri Tielemans assist, Watkins lets fly with an effort from the left-hand side of the box, which takes a significant deflection off Schar and deceives Nick Pope before trickling in.
Fabian Schar goal vs. Aston Villa (18th min, Aston Villa 1-1 Newcastle)
Newcastle are level! ⚖️
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 19, 2025
Fabian Schär squeezes it in at the back post! 🔲 pic.twitter.com/BKUXRt5bFC
Redemption tastes sweet for Schar!
Newcastle keep the ball alive after Villa can only half-clear a Kieran Trippier free kick, and Harvey Barnes swings in a wonderful cross to the back post, where Schar peels off Maatsen and squeezes a header through Emiliano Martinez's legs.
Ian Maatsen goal vs. Newcastle (64th min, Aston Villa 2-1 Newcastle)
Aston Villa retake the lead courtesy of Ian Maatsen's FIRST Premier League goal! 💥 pic.twitter.com/sZZ5a1lZeX
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 19, 2025
A double milestone for Maatsen - on his 150th appearance in English league football, he scores his first goal in the Premier League.
The Dutchman makes a lung-busting run down Newcastle's exposed left-hand side, and Watkins spots him, before Maatsen finishes the job with a clinical curler into the side of the net.
Dan Burn own goal vs. Newcastle (73rd min, Aston Villa 3-1 Newcastle)
Jacob Ramsey's cross finds it's way in after a deflection off Dan Burn! 😮 pic.twitter.com/zQgJdJAPZ7
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 19, 2025
If only Burn did not have such big feet...
Villa once again find joy down the Newcastle right, as Jacob Ramsey fizzes in a low ball destined for Tielemans, but the cross bypasses the Belgian and is instead accidentally flicked into the net by Burn's heel.
Some own goal, it has to be said.
Amadou Onana goal vs. Newcastle (75th min, Aston Villa 4-1 Newcastle)
"They are blowing their Champions League rivals OUT OF THE WATER!" 🎙️
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 19, 2025
Amadou Onana with a sublime finish to put Aston Villa out of Newcastle's reach 🚀 pic.twitter.com/83akLioCES
The Lions sure are roaring again now!
Pope and Tino Livramento both do brilliantly to deny Morgan Rogers from close range, but the former Middlesbrough man keeps the attack alive and tees up Onana, whose fabulous first-time strike from the edge of the area sails into the top corner.
MAN OF THE MATCH - OLLIE WATKINS
© Imago
No player on the pitch had a bigger point to prove than Watkins, who had started just one of Villa's previous five matches before being given the chance to strut his stuff against Newcastle, and he sent Emery quite the selection message.
The Englishman equalled Agbonlahor's record of 74 Premier League goals for Villa within just one minute, before turning provider for Maatsen to regain the lead for the Lions, making Emery's decision not to start him against PSG all the more baffling.
ASTON VILLA VS. NEWCASTLE MATCH STATS
Possession: Aston Villa 49%-51% Newcastle
Shots: Aston Villa 23-10 Newcastle
Shots on target: Aston Villa 9-3 Newcastle
Corners: Aston Villa 7-7 Newcastle
Fouls: Aston Villa 9-12 Newcastle
BEST STATS
1 - Aston Villa have scored in the opening minute of a Premier League game for the first time since April 2021 v Manchester City, while Newcastle have conceded in the opening minute in the competition for the first time since January 2019 v Manchester City. Blistering. pic.twitter.com/0KIhIdYKyY
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 19, 2025
Ollie Watkins has now joined Gabby Agbonlahor as the all-time top scoring player for Aston Villa in the Premier League (74 goals). pic.twitter.com/bsBLSZUDe0
— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) April 19, 2025
6 - Aston Villa have won six successive home games in all competitions, each while scoring at least twice. It's their longest run of home wins while scoring 2+ since January 1990 (11). Super. pic.twitter.com/ZzRoJedsME
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 19, 2025
WHAT NEXT?
With momentum on their side, Villa travel to reigning champions Manchester City on Tuesday night, four days before a mouthwatering FA Cup semi-final with Crystal Palace at Wembley.
Meanwhile, Newcastle have a week to recuperate before attempting to get back on track at home to Ipswich Town next Saturday, and it remains to be seen if Eddie Howe will be back on the touchline for that contest.
Ben Knapton
