Aston Villa Thrashes Newcastle United 4-1, Keeps Champions League Hope Alive

Aston Villa extended their unbeaten Premier League streak at Villa Park to 16 games with a dominant 4-1 victory over in-form Newcastle United, keeping their hopes for a UEFA Champions League spot alive. Ollie Watkins gave Villa an explosive start by scoring within the first minute, and later came close to doubling his tally by hitting the woodwork twice. Newcastle briefly equalized through a Fabian Schär effort, though controversy arose regarding whether Schär should have been sent off earlier for a last-man foul on Watkins. Villa regained control in the second half, with Ian Maatsen netting his first Premier League goal and an own goal by Dan Burn further extending their lead. The match showcased Villa's attacking prowess and resilience, as they consistently threatened Newcastle's defense and secured a vital win in the race for European qualification.