Aston Villa 3-0 Newcastle: Ollie Watkins and Jacob Ramsey blast the top four race wide open

There’s a banner in Holte End in Villa Park featuring Ron Saunders’ face and an iconic quote from him on their way to their 1981 league title. ‘Want to bet against us?’ there is.

With a striker outperforming Erling Haaland this year, a team with a run of seven wins in their last eight and a fanbase united by a coach steeped in winning experience, you’ll want to bet against Aston Villa playing in Europe next season ?

This was a breakdown and Newcastle haven’t been outplayed like this since Eddie Howe’s first weeks at the club. Unai Emery’s fluid squad made Newcastle look average, with each player being revived by the faith and know-how the Spaniard has given them.

Ollie Watkins conceded another two goals to take his tally to 11 league goals in 2023, Jacob Ramsey scored and popped up everywhere in a superb performance, while only Nick Pope can leave for Newcastle with any credit.

A good viewing job for Gareth Southgate, who smiled when Watkins scored his second goal. He would also have been pleased with the confident and authoritative performance of Tyrone Mings, who looks a very different player under Emery.

Watkins was on top form, scoring twice in the last half hour to blow open the top four races

Newcastle players look on dejectedly after being torn apart by a rampaging Villa side on Saturday

This game was a tough fight even before a ball was kicked, but the tone was set after just 28 seconds, when Villa cut Newcastle apart to send the league’s most in form player, Watkins, on goal. His shot was just wide of Pope, but hit the post.

Emery, greeted by the Holte End as he emerged in his all-black attire, is often a calm presence on the touchline, but he fell to his knees as Watkins rejected the early chance.

It was the theme of the match though, as Villa continued to pass purposefully, taking advantage of spaces both wide and down the middle.

Newcastle came here on a five-game winning streak that has made Champions League football a possibility rather than a possibility. But Eddie Howe’s side was dominated and barely got a kick.

Indeed, the best defense in the league – just 21 goals against this season for this match – leaked opportunities, and Emery’s fluid system left Newcastle confused as to who to pick.

Jacob Ramsey celebrates with teammates after blasting Aston Villa up front at Villa Park

The midfielder blasted through a crowd of Newcastle defenders and scored in the 11th minute

Villa fans celebrate their side taking the lead as they extend their winning streak to five games

Watkins was ever present in Villa’s attacks, but John McGinn, Emi Buendia and Ramsey made late darts into the penalty area that caused all sorts of problems.

Villa took advantage of one of those runs after 11 minutes as Ramsey scored and held on to knock down Watkins after a patient build-up resulted in McGinn’s cross towards the back post.

Ramsey ran for the header and made perfect contact with his left foot to score.

Watkins went through on target again minutes later, albeit from a corner, forcing a good save from Pope, but Newcastle failed to clear and Alex Moreno took advantage of the loose ball and controlled to Ramsey who scored from close range. slat rattled. He should have scored.

Moreno, who was signed for £12 million from Real Betis in January, looks like a fine talent and has been one of the most outstanding players of Emery’s reign.

The 29-year-old was a constant threat here and gave Kieran Trippier a torrid afternoon, blasting past him and causing plenty of trouble.

In the second half too, it was the Spaniard who was at the center of all that was good, as he played a clever through ball to Watkins on the hour mark, but the striker was ruled offside by VAR after a clean finish past Pope.

The call from the VAR seemed to cheer Newcastle up for a moment, but a dose of deja vu two minutes later.

Moreno again, Watkins again. This time, the full-back found some space in the penalty area after some good play from McGinn and picked out his striker, who turned and scored.

Ollie Watkins (right) set the tone after a low shot hit the post for Villa

Unai Emery’s side are in excellent form and have now won seven of their last eight games

But Eddie Howe would have been disappointed with his side’s performance in the West Midlands

Most credit has to go to Villa’s forwards, who, judging by his average position, also include full-back Moreno, but their defense was just as solid here.

Newcastle were limited to half chances and it wasn’t until just before the hour mark that Emi Martinez made a remarkable save, when Alexander Isak worked a yard wide but couldn’t quite find the far corner with his shot from the side.

Watkins made it 3–0 after 83 minutes as McGinn and Buendia combined again in the right channel. The Argentinian dropped out of Watkins who happened to be in the right place at the right time to fit into the far corner. Game over.

That’s now 15 goals for Watkins since the World Cup break, more than any other Premier League player, and five consecutive wins for Villa for the first time in the Premier League since 1998. Want to bet against them?