Aston Villa defeats Newcastle 4-1, moves sixth in Premier League

Aston Villa emphatically defeated Newcastle United 4-1 at Villa Park, reigniting their bid for Champions League qualification and moving up to sixth in the Premier League. Ollie Watkins, recalled to the lineup after being left out in the Champions League, opened the scoring in the first minute and assisted Ian Maatsen's goal, with Villa also benefiting from a Dan Burn own goal and an Amadou Onana strike. Newcastle briefly leveled through Fabian Schar but struggled defensively and failed to recover as Villa dominated the second half. The victory leaves Villa just two points behind third-placed Newcastle in a tight race for the top five, which guarantees Champions League spots. Newcastle, managed by Jason Tindall in Eddie Howe's absence, saw their momentum halted after a strong run of form. Villa’s response following their Champions League exit demonstrates their resilience and underlines the high stakes in the Premier League’s closing stages.