Aston Villa Breaks 21-Year Stalemate at St James' Park with Clinical Victory

Villa Ends Newcastle Hoodoo in Style

Aston Villa secured a memorable 2-0 victory at St James' Park on Sunday, marking their first Premier League win at Newcastle since April 2005. Emi Buendia's breathtaking 19th-minute curler and Ollie Watkins' 88th-minute header sealed the triumph, lifting Unai Emery's side level on points with second-placed Manchester City.

Match Highlights

• 19' - Buendia unleashes a 25-yard screamer into the far corner, leaving Nick Pope stranded
• 88' - Watkins nods home Lucas Digne's pinpoint cross to confirm the victory

"This is a massive result - it's an incredibly difficult place to come," Watkins told Sky Sports. "We executed our gameplan perfectly by playing behind their defense."

Key Performances

Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez produced several crucial saves, including a spectacular stop to deny Lewis Miley's looping header. The absence of Newcastle captain Bruno Guimarães proved costly for the hosts, who have now failed to win any of their last 11 games without the Brazilian midfielder.

*Player of the Match

Manager Reactions

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe lamented missed opportunities: "Sandro's early chance could have changed everything. We lacked precision in the final third."

Villa manager Unai Emery praised his team's resilience: "Martinez was extraordinary today. This win demonstrates our growing maturity in big away games."

The result compounds Newcastle's injury woes, with Joelinton limping off ahead of Wednesday's crucial Champions League clash against PSG. Villa continue their push for European qualification, demonstrating they can grind out results against top-half opposition.