Newcastle 0 Aston Villa 1: Johan Manzambi the match-winner

Johan Manzambi came back to haunt Newcastle as his goal earned Villa boss Unai Emery his 100th Premier League win.

The midfielder, wanted in the Magpies in the summer before choosing to join Villa, headed the only goal of the game at St James’s Park.

Emi Buendia also saw a shot deflected into the woodwork as the visitors carved out several first half chances.

A superb Zion Suzuki save to deny Sven Botman then preserved the points after the break.

Analysis

Botman’s shot was the home side’s only effort on target and Villa were worthy of their win, even if some wastefulness in front of goal made the finish nervier than it might have been.

Nicolas Jackson and substitute Ibrahim Mbaye were both guilty of missing chances to make the club’s second league win of the season far more comfortable.

The win moved Villa up to second in the table, as they recorded just their second clean sheet in the league this season.

An injury to Aaron Wan-Bissaka, already playing as emergency left-back due to Ian Maatsen and Matteo Ruggeri’s absences, was the only blot on the day.

Emery made four changes to the team which beat Fenerbahce 6-0 in midweek and the inclusion of Alysson over skipper John McGinn gave Villa greater pace and almost paid early dividends.

The winger raced on to a clearance from an early corner and then sent Nicolas Jackson scampering clear into the Newcastle half.

Yet after rounding the rapidly retreating Harvey Barnes, the striker sent his finish straight at goalkeeper Lukas Hornicek.

Jackson was involved in the first half’s big talking point when he was the victim of a two-footed lunge by defender Sven Botman.

Referee Jarred Gillett showed the Newcastle man a yellow card and after a check, VAR Stuart Attwell did not deem it worthy of an upgrade.

That meant the centre-back was still on the pitch to block a Jackson shot behind as Villa continued to find acres of space in the final third.

When the opener did arrive, it owed plenty to the home side’s slack marking as Manzambi was left alone to head Gomes’ cross beyond Hornicek, the keeper getting a touch but unable to keep the ball out.

Villa might have been out of sight before the break. Jackson got to the byline and picked out Buendia, whose low shot was deflected onto the post and then off the back of Hornicek, not enough to divert it into the goal but enough to stop the rebound falling to a visiting player.

Jackson was then unable to correct his feet in time and what would have been a golden chance went begging as he was found by Manzambi.

Newcastle ended the half without having registered a shot on target. Their first of the evening early in the second half almost brought a leveller, as a clearance fell to Botman and his left-footed strike was heading toward the corner of the net before Suzuki produced a flying one-handed save.

The home side were seeing most of the ball without creating much in the way of chances. Yoane Wissa headed a Lewis Miley cross over the bar.

Yet momentum was swinging and Emery made changes which almost paid instant dividends. One of the new men, Mbaye, started an attack which ended with another, Ross Barkley, having a shot saved by Hornicek.

Wissa twice shot wide but the best chances fell to Mbaye, who could not take them to ensure Villa had to sweat it out.

Key Moments

36 GOAL Johan Manzambi heads Villa in front from Joao Gomes’ cross.

Teams

Newcastle (4-2-3-1): Hornicek, Miley, Thiaw, Botman, Hall, Gonzalez, Willock (Osula 57), Barnes, Joelinton (Burn 90), Fernandez-Pardo (Toure 57), Wissa Subs not used: Schar, Bamba, Steur, Murphy, Burn, Dedic, Pope (gk).

Villa (4-2-3-1): Suzuki, Cash, Lindelof, Mings, Wan-Bissska (Torres 77), Kamara, Gomes (Barkley 72), Alysson, Manzambi (Mbaye 72), Buendia (Goretzka 72), Jackson Subs: Harwood-Bellis, Bogarde, Madjo, Bizot (gk).