A Villa 2 – 0 Newcastle

Aston Villa returned to the top half of the Premier League with a comfortable 2-0 win over lackluster Newcastle at Villa Park

Dean Smith, who was serving a one-game touchdown ban for clashing with officials in his side’s loss to Manchester City on Wednesday, was said to have been delighted with what he saw in the stands as his side took on a two-goal lead in the first half.

Ollie Watkins (13) ended a nine-game scoreless streak to overtake Karl Darlow before Bertrand Traore’s superb finish extended the hosts’ advantage (42).

Visitors welcomed Allan Saint-Maximin in the second half of the year after more than two months on the sidelines of the coronavirus, but a retaliation never materialized as Villa hit all three points.

Villa are now eighth and are five points behind fourth-placed Liverpool with two games still underway.

Meanwhile, the loss puts pressure on Newcastle boss Steve Bruce, whose side is seven points above relegation spots and without a win in 10 games in all competitions.

More soon…

Table…

Carra: ‘Newcastle become a club from nothing’

Jamie Carragher fears for Newcastle’s long-term future under Mike Ashley ownership and feels Steve Bruce’s side drift into yet another relegation fight after their last poor performance.

“I mentioned how impressed I have been with Aston Villa, not just tonight but the entire season,” said the Sky Sports expert.

“It’s just the opposite with Newcastle. It just feels like a club that is nothing right now, just sleepwalking in another relegation dogfight.

“Twice they fell under Mike Ashley. Right now they have a little gap between them and Fulham. There is still a long way to go but I would say Fulham and West Brom are in much better shape than Newcastle.

“So poor again. You never feel like they’re going to score a goal. You never feel like they’re going to keep a clean sheet.

“There is no doubt that the supporters don’t like the team, they don’t like the owner, they don’t like the manager.

“Steve Bruce is getting criticism right now. He’s the manager and the responsibility ends with him, but until Newcastle owns we are going to see the same.

“A team that drifts, does nothing, becomes a club of nothing and that’s what Newcastle have never been. There’s always been a kind of spark, a kind of interest, a kind of enthusiasm when you watch them play. “

“Now that’s just boring.”

Opta stats – Newcastle struggles continue

• Newcastle are winless in eight Premier League games (D2 L6), losing their last four games in a row. No team is on a longer current race without a victory in the competition.
• Having had the first shot on target of the entire game in the 4th minute, Newcastle failed to register a single attempt on target for the remainder of the game.
• Aston Villa have kept a clean sheet in nine of their 17 Premier League games this season, with only Manchester City (10) registering a shutout more often.
• Aston Villa have won back-to-back home league games against Newcastle for the first time in a series of fours between 2006-2011.

And after?

The next stop for Aston Villa is a trip to Turf Moor on Wednesday to face Burnley; kick off at 6 p.m.

Meanwhile. Newcastle are back in action on Tuesday when they host Leeds at St James’ Park; kick off at 6 p.m.