Buendía and Watkins Stun Newcastle, Keeping Aston Villa's Title Hopes Alive
Some victories are a bit lucky, others are fluky, and some are just plain hard-fought. But this Aston Villa triumph was in a different category. It was the kind of win that screamed, 'thoroughly deserved'. Villa's attacking play was fluid, fluent, and gloriously improvisational, making Newcastle's efforts look like a footballing version of painting by numbers.
Howe's team has become a bit too formulaic and data-driven, but on this day, the off-the-cuff brilliance of Morgan Rogers and Emiliano Buendía made all the difference. Unai Emery's team defended consistently well, and Emiliano Martínez's goalkeeping was impressive, but Villa's attacking prowess was the real star.
Newcastle might have taken an early lead, but Martínez denied Sandro Tonali, and Nick Pope soon performed wonders, saving an Ollie Watkins shot for a corner after a fine through pass by Jadon Sancho. But it was Buendía's swerving, dipping opening goal from the edge of the area that truly stunned the crowd.
Villa had a poor record at St James' Park, having conceded 12 goals in their last three visits and not winning since 2005. However, this game felt different. Martínez excelled again, saving Lewis Miley's header, but Villa's midfield struggled without the injured Bruno Guimarães, who rarely misses games. This was only the 11th top-tier game Guimarães had missed since arriving from Lyon four years ago, and ominously for Howe, Newcastle had won none of the previous 10.
The Brazilian's injured ankle might have healed in time for the Champions League match, but it didn't help his team on this day. Joelinton's aggression after a yellow card and Tonali's off-day meant the high-defensive line presented by Emery's team wasn't being accepted by Yoane Wissa or his teammates.
When Joelinton succumbed to a groin injury, he was replaced by Jacob Ramsey, who coincided with a mini home resurgence. Perhaps the team was feeling the aftereffects of their flight back from Istanbul, but Pope still needed to prove equal to a curling shot from Rogers, and Howe replaced Wissa and Gordon with Nick Woltemade and Anthony Elanga.
It didn't change the narrative. Watkins's pace and movement had troubled Newcastle all game, and shortly after Pope had come between the centre-forward and a goal, Watkins scored Villa's second. This time, the goal came from a set piece, as Newcastle failed to clear a corner. The ball eventually fell to Lucas Digne, and his half-volley across the box was met by Watkins's diving header, prompting wild celebrations in Villa's technical area.
