Aston Villa boss Dean Smith hails 'big win' after comfortable victory over Newcastle

The hosts eased back to winning ways in the top flight thanks to two first half goals inside four minutes from Conor Hourihane and Anwar El Ghazi.

Smith's men dominated throughout to inflict more Villa Park misery on Steve Bruce, who made his first return since he was sacked 13 months ago.

Returning skipper Jack Grealish played a starring role on his return from an injury lay-off, while Hourihane struck one and laid on the second for El Ghazi.

Just four points now separate 15th-placed Villa from Sheffield United, in sixth.

Smith said: "It shows how close this league is.

"It was a big win in terms of the table. What you don't want to see is a gap opening up (above). It puts us in a shout with teams above us.

"The top four have won nine games, everybody else have won four - other than Burnley with five - it shows how competitive the league is.

"You can put three results together and be in the top 10 or lose three and be in the bottom five. It's the way it seems this season."

Villa put some daylight between themselves and the relegation zone with the win, that lifted them up two places to 15th.

It ended a run of three straight Premier League defeats for Smith's men.

Both goalscorers Hourihane and El Ghazi were brought to the club by Bruce, who admitted his disappointment at his team's failure to turn up in a costly first period.

Bruce said: "We weren't good enough on the night, especially first half.

"All the talk has been about McGinn but I have to tell you for £1million Hourihane is not too bad either.

"Conor with two pieces of magic which we know he's capable of has scored a great goal and the second changed the game."