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Last Season
SJP
Unlikely Lads
Aston Villa (a) Premier League
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Date: Saturday 19th April 2025, 5.30pm Live on Sky Sports Venue: Villa Park
Conditions: Lethargic |
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Aston Villa |
Newcastle |
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4 - 1 |
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| Half time: | 1 - 1 | |
| Score Sheet: | ||
 (1)
Watkins (64) Maatsen (73) OG(Burn) (75) Onana
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Schar (18) |
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Teams |
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Martinez |
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Pope Trippier Livramento Schar Burn Joelinton Tonali Guimaraes J.Murphy Barnes Isak |
| Substitutes: | ||
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(72)
Onana for Asensio (72) Ramsey for McGinn (82) Malen for Rogers (82) Barkley for Kamara (82) Rashford for Watkins |
Gordon for J.Murphy (65) Krafth for Trippier (76) Willock for Barnes (76) Wilson for Isak (76) Targett for Schar (82) |
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| Subs not used: | ||
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Digne Disasi Andres Garcia Olsen |
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Dubravka Longstaff Miley Osula |
| Bookings: | ||
Ramsey
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Schar
Joelinton
Gumiaraes
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| Dismissals: | ||
| None | None | |
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Referee:
Jarred
Gillett - a third Magpies appointment for the Australian-born
official, following the 1-1 home draw with Manchester City and the 4-3 win over
Nottingham Forest at Gallowgate. It seems like sour grapes to complain when so many of our troubles today were self-inflicted, but this bloke really is a clown - booking Joelinton for essentially winning the ball and ignoring the pathetic attempt of Watkins to win a penalty. The home side meanwhile had gripes of their own, especially over the decision not to penalise Schar's challenge on Watkins with a red card or spot kick. VAR: Michael Salisbury. |
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Attendance:
42,618 including 3,000 away
fans, added the topical chant of "Where's your binmen
gone?" to their usual repertoire.
As is apparently the law round these parts (Wolves and Birmingham City have a similar fetish), the teams took to the field amid jets of flame, with an extra "treat" here in the form of smoke machines with all the power of a disposable bbq. Why?
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Goals |
33 secs Under pressure from Ollie
Watkins, Sandro Tonali ran across his own box towards the corner flag on the
United right before clearing the ball forward. That ball fell to Youri Tielemans
in space and he played a low forward pass into the United area that Fabian Schar
anticipated was meant for the onrushing Marco Asensio.
However it ran into the path of Watkins, with Kieran Trippier appealing in vain
for offside. Watkins took two steadying touches and shaped to shoot
towards Nick Pope's right. Instead though, the ball struck the top of Schar's
left boot and reared up, passing to the committed Pope's right and into the net
from around eight yards. 0-1
18 mins
Confronted by Boubacar Kamara on the United left, Harvey Barnes checked
infield and sent over a sweeping right-footed cross towards the back post,
successfully picking out Fabian Schar who had got ahead of Ian Maatsen.
The visiting defender headed the ball down from six yards and it struck the
inside Emi Martínez's legs before bouncing into the Holte End goal. 1-1
Half time: Villans 1 Magpies
1
64 mins A flowing combination of passes involving Morgan
Rogers, Asensio and Watkins took the hosts from the halfway line to the
Newcastle box. Overlapping to the left of Watkins was Ian Maatsen and the Dutch
defender took possession before netting his first Premier League goal.
Pope looked to come off his line
initially but pause and was beaten by a shot that flew over his left shoulder
and into the far side of the net. 1-2
73 mins Although a quartet of Newcastle players were around him outside the
area, not for the first time in the game, Watkins had time and space to dictate
play, this time funnelling a pass out to the left where newly-arrived substitute
Jacob Ramsey lurked.
He made ground to reach the left side of the United box before pinging a low
pass across the six yard line. His intended target Tielemans looked to step over
the ball, but Dan Burn was immediately behind him and facing his own goal,
helpless to stop the ball pinging off his left boot into the goal. 1-3
75 mins Burn's attempted
clearance from the right back position went only as far as Amadou Onana, who
chested it down to Ramsey in the left hand channel. His first time pass infield
found Tielemans and he set up Morgan Rogers to twist inside Tino Livramento and
shoot from six yards.
That effort was blocked by Pope, Livramento heading the loose ball away from
goal. Sadly for United through that fell to Ramsey and he moved it straight to
Rogers, who laid it back for Onana to let flew from the edge of the box and beat
Pope with a rising right foot shot into the top left corner. 1-4
Full time: Villans 4 Magpies 1
We Said |
"Possibly (a game too far for the same starting XI). But, you know, when the team's in such a great moment and the players are in such good form, it does make it difficult to change the team.
"You could quite easily be sitting here having made three or four changes, and the same result happens. Then probably everyone is saying, ‘why did you change the team?’ So, it can work both ways.
"But, you know, I've
probably felt that, on reflection, certainly in the second half,
maybe it was just a step too far for the lads physically, with the
physical effort that they've had in the previous two games.
"Aston Villa deserved to win. From our perspective maybe a third game
in six days caught up with us around about the hour is there.
"The message to the players, to everyone, is that we can't lose sight
of where we are. We're third in the Premier League, and if you had said to
anyone at the football club at the start of the season, would you be happy
with being third in the Premier League with five games to go? I think
everybody would have said yes.
"So, we certainly can't lose sight of that. We've done incredibly well to get ourselves in that position. We've been really, really consistent, delivered some excellent performances.
“So, that's the biggest
message, is to make sure that we rest, recover, and then when we get
back to work, we prepare right to go and deliver a good performance
against Ipswich.
"We knew they would start fast: their record here at Villa Park
is what it is for a reason. We were disappointed with the start but
we showed great character to get ourselves back into the game and go
in level at 1-1 at half time.
"The second half we went out and started the half OK, but around the hour mark when we conceded the second, the physicality and effort caught up to us. We started making little errors that are unlike us that led to goals.
"Full credit to the players, the effort they have put in this week is
there for all to see but maybe today was a step too far for us.
"I wouldn't say that it is a reality check. It was always going to be a
tough game coming here to Villa Park. What a fantastic side they are with a
great manager.
"We have had many setbacks but one thing about the players and the club
is we stick together and come out fighting.
On Fabian Schar:
"Fabby was feeling his hamstring in the game. We felt it was the wise
move to bring him off and try to protect him. Hopefully, that should make
sure he’s okay for the remaining games.”
On Eddie Howe:
"Until I’m told otherwise, then obviously that (taking charge of
the team) is my duty and what I have to do.
"I’ve said it before, the most important thing for Ed is that he rests and he recovers. The more he does that, then the sooner he’ll be able to come and lead the team again.
"I’ve not (spoken to him about the game). I’ve not had chance to see my phone since the final whistle has gone.
"I’m not sure if there is
any contact there, but as soon as there is any more news, then I’m
sure the media team will update on that."
They Said |
Unai Emery said:
"I’m very happy. How we responded today was really fantastic after the match we played on Tuesday. How we are reacting and responding, coming back to the Premier League and being focused 100% because it’s through it that we can get our objective again to be in Europe and hopefully in the Champions League.
"It was really fantastic. The players trained yesterday and were ready to play today, the substitutes as well with how they made an impact.
"Today was the first match we played
with every player available and I needed to take off three players yesterday
from the squad. It was the first time this season.
"It’s something we’re adding and improving in our competitive way
because we can have players for different moments and players on the bench ready
to play well.
"The example is how we played today in
90 minutes, playing very, very consistently. To have the players available to
play again on Tuesday is very important, and for the semi-final against Crystal
Palace (next Saturday).
"Now the problem is for me and how I am taking the decision about the
players and our tactical idea to play against every team.
"I’m very happy with how the
supporters helped us, helping every day, transmitting their energy and creating
this really great atmosphere. We’re feeling strong here, feeling comfortable
and playing for our supporters.
"The momentum is important to be focused,
to rest well and try to have good food, and then be ready to play matches like
we are playing on Tuesday. We have to react quickly again to prepare the match
against Manchester City. We are in the key moment to try to get our best.
"The team is in this commitment with the messages I am sending, and they are showing us with performances like today. I’m very, very proud of them and happy with their work.”
Stats |
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Toon @ Villa Park - PL era:
2024/25
lost 1-4 Schar
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Waffle |
Newcastle's six game winning run abruptly ended
on Saturday, soundly beaten by a Villa side who scored the first of four goals
in the opening seconds and hit the goal frame another three times.
Unai Emery's side were unbeaten in 15 Premier League home games and almost
instantly went ahead when an Ollie Watkins shot took a massive deflection off
Fabian Schar and flew past Nick Pope.
Schar had scored twice in the corresponding game last season in front of the
Holte End and repeated that feat, heading an unchanged United level on 18
minutes from a Harvey Barnes cross.
It remained 1-1 at half time; Watkins denied by the woodwork either side of
Newcastle's equaliser and only a low shot from Sandro Tonali to show for the
efforts of the visiting side, despite winning a plentiful number of corner
kicks.
The exertions of recent games then looked to catch up with Jason Tindall's team
after the break; the referee's denial of an optimistic penalty plea from Bruno
causing the Magpies captain to crash into an opponent seconds later and join
countryman Joelinton on a yellow card.
Play restarted with Watkins able to play in Ian Maatsen, who beat Pope from the
left hand side of the box. Worse was to follow; substitute Jacob Ramsey seeing
his cross from the left deflect in off Dan Burn from close range before fellow
replacement Amadou Onana stylishly added a fourth from the edge of the box after
birthday boy Pope had initially denied Morgan Rogers.
Ramsey then looked set to add a fifth goal for his side after tracking in from
the left but pinged his effort beyond the Newcastle goalkeeper and off the far
post.
A sobering afternoon then; a talented Villa side deservedly taking all three
points after encouraging United's press, but having the skill and vision to
bypass that and successfully mount attacks - often initiated by the precise
distribution of goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.
We'd have taken a point beforehand, but one goal never looked sufficient to meet
that aspiration given Villa's vitality, the defence (particularly Trippier)
collectively tiring as the game progressed. Having two midfielders unable to
risk a tackle hardly helped either....
It's tempting to suggest that a reshuffle would have been timely after six
successive games, but few options presented themselves in terms of changing a
settled side on a winning run - those coming off the bench all operating at
lower levels for a variety of reasons, be it fitness, form or talent.
Contrast that with the victorious Villans, who were able to make four changes to
the side that exited from the Champions League despite beating Paris SG on
Tuesday. One of those reinstated was top scorer Watkins, who grabbed his
fifteenth goal of the season and could have several more.
Newcastle's pride and goal difference may have taken a knock, but despite this
collective off day, they remain third, with a free week to prepare for the visit
of an Ipswich Town side with one foot already in the Championship.
Villa meanwhile have the little matter of a rearranged visit to Manchester City
on Tuesday night, ahead of next Saturday's FA Cup semi-final at Wembley.
Our last successful Champions League qualification included a defeat by three clear goals on this ground almost two years to the day; with eleven Magpies featuring in both games.
Howe's side responded positively to that setback in 2023 and although he remains absent, there's no reason to suspect that the players won't do so again. That was certainly the case for a Villa side deservedly beaten 0-3 at Gallowgate last December, who recovered to win their next three games.
Biffa