Right, we are now entering the twilight zone.
This match marked the end of a significant period of home comfort, as this was the sixth home match in a three-week period. I’m sure my girl isn’t the only lovely lady on Tyneside who has said something along the lines of “AGAIN? You’ve got to be kidding me!!!” as I skipped out the door with the smell of beer in my nostrils while she stood in a metaphorical pile of children, plates and ironing.
This is about to become a stark contrast as there is a good chance that there will be seven away games against a solitary home match over the next month (assuming Champions League progress ends in a play-off spot).
It’s a formidable set of trips too, with the European and English champions, a double header on that happy hunting ground of the Etihad and a return match with today’s opponents in the FA Cup.
Aston Villa is having an exceptionally strong season and while today’s match was indeed difficult, with what lies ahead it was practically a must-win as once again the flirtation with the Champions League slots presented itself.
There was some confidence to be gained from Villa missing a couple of key figures in McGinn and Kamara after last week’s defeat at home to Everton was followed by a long Thursday evening away in Turkey. Maybe we welcomed these people at the right time?
Mixed news from our own ranks: Osula and Burn returned to the bench, but crucially Bruno didn’t make it after limping against PSV. Of course, we’ve never won a Premier League game without him since he joined…
This could have been a different match if the opening minute had gone the way it almost did, with a goal of the month from Tonali. Joelinton recovered a slightly wayward Barnes pass on the right and kept a few defenders at bay before heading towards Tonali, who danced through the entire defense in a mesmerizing run before creating space to fire his shot. It looked like there was only one result, but Martinez’s desperately outstretched leg produced a stop that we will now likely see in the save of the month.
Nick Pope returned the favor after Thiaw got into a tangle that sent Watkins running. His fierce urge was deflected by the onrushing Pope in a response that was arguably even better than that of the Villa keeper. Unlike Martinez, however, Pope’s effort would count for now.
Not that the United keeper gets any blame for Buendia’s opener, which was a brilliant strike from distance into the top corner. The irritation lies with those who made him take a few touches to position himself and set up his shot. In fact, everything about this goal was annoying, because I later found out that Villa have scored around 14 goals from outside the penalty area, meaning they far exceed their expected goals (xg). I can’t think of any that Newcastle have scored, but I dare say I can’t remember a single try from close range, no saves drawn or even slightly wayward blasts from outside the box. We’re just not putting enough shots on target, with the only player willing and able to do that, or make the odd decent dig, being Jacob Murphy, who was absent today.
This was a growing frustration as the game progressed. Anthony Gordon, under par again, made a couple of left-footed crosses straight from play, rather than cutting to the right and making a dig. The same sharp interplay that led Villa to their goal was evident in our attack, as the visitors played a fairly open game, in contrast to the approach of the many weak losers who appear here with their low blocks and counter-attacks. United simply didn’t use the space enough to test them, either through a lack of precision on the final ball (I got irritated by the many attacks that ended up with a floater in Martinez’s hands) or through a refusal to make an attempt.
The other skill Villa showed that was hard to watch was how effectively they played their way through this match. The crowd rose to its feet as the visitors opted to continue playing with two of their boys on the ground. When their attack came to nothing and United tried to counter, the referee decided to stop the match due to unnecessarily prolonged treatment. Then the old tricks came out. Slow substitutions, players falling and interrupting play, easy dives winning soft free kicks, 65 seconds to take a goal kick, etc. All the dark arts we once deployed so devastatingly, but it seems all but gone, in what I think is a terrible overreaction to the injury crisis of the 23/24 season. The referee got pelters for every soft free kick or every few steps stolen for goal kicks, but this is what we have built our own success on.
There is a school of thought that Villa and Newcastle United will have to alternate successful seasons. The PSR chokehold at both clubs means that squad development is not feasible to the extent that a Champions League campaign is sustainable beyond repeated qualification via the Premier (let alone a lead in the domestic cups). Today’s match is further proof that we will not be competing at the top of Europe next year. Villa also have Europe, but Europe’s smaller opposition means a more extensive rotation is feasible and you only really have to go for it in the quarter-finals. They made five changes from midweek after resting a number of key players, while the forced omission of Bruno was our only substitution for PSV.
Villa managed to get one more thing in which they seemed to be better at than us as an effective ball into the box set up their second late on. Digne’s dipping cross caused panic and Watkins’ return post run was not followed, giving him a shockingly easy header.
This was definitely one to forget. Not actually the worst I’ve seen United play, but it seemed gripping despite the opposition highlighting our recent shortcomings. Liverpool and Tottenham’s away games aren’t as ominous as they once sounded with both opponents in a bit of a muddy patch, but you’d be a brave gambler if you backed us to get away with many of those games. Securing that with a win today would have felt a lot better. As it is, I’m looking down and worrying about how far we might fall from our current 9th place if the standard scared performance rolls out over that ominous February.
So time to think about nicer things. I still have a few things to finish and then I’m leaving for Paris. The Champions League may offer some hope for better things to come, and even if the match is a wreck, I’m determined to have a great holiday. Come on Les Pies!
Newcastle 0 Aston Villa 2 – Sunday 25 January 2026 2pm
Match statistics
Goals:
Newcastle United:
Astonvilla:
Buendia 19 Watkins 88
Possess was Newcastle 60% Villa 40%
Total shots were Newcastle 15 Villa 14
Shots on target were Newcastle 4 Villa 8
Corners were Newcastle 6 Villa 5
Touches in the opposition box Newcastle 24 Villa 27
Newcastle team vs Villa:
Pope, Tripper, Thiaw, Botman, Hall, Tonali (Willock 84), Joelinton (Ramsey 48), Miley, Barnes, Gordon (Elanga 63), Wissa (Woltemade 62)
Unused subs:
Ramsdale, Osula, Burn, Shahar, Alex Murphy
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