NEWCASTLE (4-3-3):
6 Pope: Didn’t get close to Buendia’s long-range strike, but made a couple of good saves in the second half
6 Trippier: Was stretched defensively on occasion and wasn’t able to get forward at all on the overlap
7 Thiaw: Handled Watkins reasonably well for most of the game and made a brilliant late challenge on Bailey
6 Botman: Won most of the aerial duels he contested, but didn’t always use the ball particularly well
6 Hall: Saw plenty of the ball, but it was a day when a number of his breaks didn’t quite come off
8 MILEY: Newcastle’s best player as he drove the ball forward in midfield – deserves to keep his place
6 Tonali: Gave everything to try to get Newcastle back into it, but couldn’t keep tabs on Villa’s attacking midfielders in the first half
5 Joelinton: Charged around in the first half, conceding a number of fouls, and was forced off shortly after the break
6 Barnes: Fired in a couple of decent efforts and actually looked more threatening on the right than when he switched flanks
5 Wissa: Was too isolated for much of his time on the field, but still failed to do anything to trouble the Villa defence
4 Gordon: Another underwhelming league display from the winger – too many of his crosses sailed out of play
Subs:
6 Ramsey (for Joelinton, 48): Showed some drive and energy against his former employers
4 Woltemade (for Wissa, 62): Wasn’t able to offer any kind of threat during his time on the field
6 Elanga (for Gordon, 62): Fired over a couple of decent crosses from the right-hand side
Willock (for Tonali, 83)
(not used): Ramsdale (gk), Burn, A Murphy, Shahar, Osula.
ASTON VILLA (4-2-3-1):
Martinez 7; Cash 8, Konsa 8, Torres 7 (Mings 74), Maatsen 8; Onana 8 (Lindelof 88), Tielemans 8 (Bogarde 74); Sancho 6 (Bailey 58, 6), Rogers 7, BUENDIA 8 (Digne 74); Watkins 7.
Subs (not used): Bizot (gk), Elliott, Guessand, Hemmings.
Man Of The Match: EMI BUENDIA – Dazzled as Villa took control of the game in the first half.