Aston Villa claim first win on Tyneside since 2005 with Newcastle lost without talisman Bruno
Villa were able to limit the Magpies to minimal chances having taken the lead, before sealing the victory in the final minutes on the counter attack.
The last time Aston Villa claimed all three points at St. James’ Park the world was a very different place. Graeme Souness was in charge of Newcastle and David O’Leary was the boss at Villa. It was 2005 and Villa ran out as 0-3 victors, but that was not the main headline. Newcastle’s Steven Taylor had attempted to win an Oscar with his acting performance after he had handled the ball on the goal-line. This was in an attempt to avoid a red card, which was ultimately in vain. And yet, that was not the main headline.
The main headline came from a scrap in the middle of the pitch between two Newcastle midfielders, Kieron Dyer and Lee Bowyer. Both were sent off and the Magpies ended the game with eight men.
On this occasion there was no such fighting in the Newcastle ranks. Instead that was replaced by frustration. Without their captain, Bruno Guimarães, the Magpies lacked composure in midfield, and looked disjointed.
Villa did not put in a stellar performance by any means, but they were extremely effective in their approach. Both sides had half chances early on, but Villa, as they have done on several occasions this season, found the net from outside the area.
Emiliano Buendía picked up the ball in a pocket around 25 yards from goal, before launching an effort past Nick Pope to give the visitors the lead. From that point onwards, Villa were happy to sit deep and soak up pressure. Some would see that as risky, but Unai Emery clearly had a plan.
Newcastle have struggled to break teams down who are compact and offer little space, as was seen just last weekend against Wolves. Villa employed the same tactic and the Magpies were stifled.
When Villa did go forward they always looked threatening. Their attacking midfielders of Buendía and Morgan Rogers stayed close to striker Ollie Watkins instead of pushing wide, making for a triple threat in the middle of Newcastle’s defence.
On the contrary, Eddie Howe’s side were too predictable. Their wingers of Anthony Gordon and Harvey Barnes hugged the touch-line as they often do, leaving Yoane Wissa exposed in central areas - not what was required when so many defenders were around him.
To break teams down Newcastle need more bodies in and around their striker, and ultimately they need to invest in creative talents that can play in that still-vacant number 10 role. Filling that gap could be the making of this team, that would allow them to be much more versatile in approach.
Villa, of course, are having a magnificent season, and if they were ever going to break their long winless run on Tyneside, this seemed the most likely year to do it. The bigger frustration for Eddie Howe and his players is that once again their weaknesses were exposed by a team who were happy to sit in and defend.
This issue has cost the Magpies a number of points this campaign, and with January additions to the squad appearing more and more unlikely, Howe and his staff will have to go about adapting the personnel they currently have to solving this persistent problem.
If they do not, then more sides will look at remaining tight and compact against Newcastle, safe in the knowledge that the Magpies will struggle greatly to break them down.