Aston Villa 2 Newcastle 0 - Player ratings

Emiliano Martinez

Saved comfortably from Miguel Almiron early but wasn’t seriously exerted for the rest of the game. Handling excellent but his ninth clean sheet of the season was arguably his easiest.

Untroubled 7

Matty Cash

A typically industrious performance from the right-back. Read the game well to make several important interceptions and blocks. Always looking to get forward too.

Consistent 7

Ezri Konsa

The latest composed performance from one of Villa’s standout performers of the season so far. Always seems to be in the right place at the right time, the mark of a good defender.

Assured 8

Tyrone Mings

Bounced back well from a frustrating night at Manchester City. Made a couple of key interventions in the first half to snuff out attacks and was dominant in the air.

Dominant 7

Matt Targett

Left Javier Manquillo needing treatment after a perfectly fair but hard second-half tackle, which neatly summed up a player who looks stronger both physically and mentally this season. Set up the opener.

Tough 7

Douglas Luiz

Sent one shot wide of the target and should have scored from close range in the second half. Not at his best, as he later admitted on social media, but not bad either.

Inconsistent 6

Marvelous Nakamba

Handed just his second Premier League start of the season, the Zimbabwe international broke up play and was tidy in possession. Arguably Villa’s best player on the night. An encouraging showing.

Impressive 8

Bertrand Traore

So unpredictable in his play you wonder whether he knows what is going to come next. Opponents certainly don’t. Took his goal superbly and was generally a menace in the final third.

Showman 7

Ross Barkley

Showed some really nice touches and was involved in some of Villa’s best moves but still gave the impression of a player getting back up to speed after a two-month absence through injury. More to come.

Building 6

Jack Grealish

Combined with Traore beautifully for Villa’s second goal of the night. Always confident in possession, this was still one of the skipper’s quieter nights of the season. Subbed for the first time in 43 Premier League matches.

Steady 7

Ollie Watkins

Snapped a nine-match scoring drought when he headed Villa into a 13th-minute lead and had another ‘goal’ ruled out for offside. Never stopped running up front and has seemingly limitless energy reserves.

Scorer 7

Substitutes

Anwar El Ghazi (for Barkley, 80), Trezeguet (for Traore, 80), Jacob Ramsey (for Grealish, 88) Subs not used: Engels, Elmohamady, Guilbert, Taylor, Davis, Heaton (gk).