Although coming from behind to level twice through Luke Charman, a last minute goal for the hosts condemned Newcastle to a narrow defeat at Villa Park in Premier League 2 on Monday night.

Aston Villa went ahead on 23 minutes through Tyreik Wright, the Ireland youth international winger having already had three previous attempts on goal before taking a long diagonal pass from Ben Guy on the right flank and lobbing Dan Langley with a volley.

At the other end, United's best chance had fallen to captain Luke Charman, but his 15th minute header following an Oliver Walters cross was dealt with by home custodian Orjan Nyland.

Tom Allan then came close to levelling, spinning clear on the edge of the box on 32 minutes but seeing his low effort strike Nyland's boot.

However, an equaliser wasn't long in arriving, Jack Young's corner headed in at the far post by Charman with five minutes of the first half remaining.

Parity proved to be fleeting though, Jacob Ramsey restoring Villa's advantage on 44 minutes after taking Jack Clarke's pass, racing clear of the visiting defence and sweeping the ball home.

Into the second half and a questionable offside flag halted Charman's goal celebrations on 50 minutes, before Villa's Indiana Vassilev crashed his shot into the side netting shortly after.

Charman wasn't to be denied though and grabbed his second of the game on 68 minutes. Newcastle's number 9 was on the end of a long free kick from Allan and Nyland could only palm his header into the net for 2-2. 

Having played 45 minutes against Boro U23s last Monday, Florian Lejeune continued his comeback from injury and completed another solid shift when replaced in the 71st minute.

There was also a first reserve start for Academy striker Kain Reed, whose only previous experience at U23 level was a brief substitute outing against Wolves back in March.

Into the closing stages and Newcastle looked the more likely to sneak a winner as the game looked set to end in draw.

There was to be a final twist though, when Villa conjured up a winner from nothing in the closing seconds of normal time.

Home substitute Colin Odutayo saw his shot blocked by Langley, but the ball ran free for fellow replacement Michael Tait to tap home.

That was tough on the Magpies, who remain tenth in the table as a consequence.

Niall MacKenzie

PS: Conspicuous by his absence tonight was U23 coach Neil Redfearn, with Academy Head Coach Ben Dawson taking charge of the team. The Mail newspaper published this soon after full time:

Neil Redfearn has walked out on Newcastle United Under-23s amid a fallout with a member of his coaching staff, Sportsmail understands.

We have been told that Redfearn was furious when his assistant Liam Bramley made a complaint to head of academy coaching Ben Dawson.

We understand Redfearn, 54, and the younger coach had not been seeing eye to eye and Dawson was forced to intervene.

There was a clear-the-air meeting at the end of last week but we are told that failed to find a resolution and tensions remain.

Redfearn was only appointed U23s boss in June but he now looks set to quit after not travelling with the squad for Monday night's game at Aston Villa. The former Leeds United manager had previously spent a short period with the Magpies during 2018. 

He was then assistant to Dawson as the pair took charge of the U23s following Peter Beardsley’s suspension amid allegations of racism and bullying.Redfearn returned this summer and both he and Dawson were then placed in caretaker charge of the first team after Rafa Benitez left. They led the pre-season tour to China before Steve Bruce arrived.

This latest development is likely to leave Newcastle looking for their fourth U23s boss in less than two years. The club declined to comment. We could not reach Redfearn for comment.