Newcastle humbled at Champions League rivals Aston Villa as Eddie Howe bemoans Magpies ‘no show’

BIRMINGHAM: It’s taken Newcastle United 30 games to finally have a Premier League off day — and they were lucky to escape Villa Park with just a three goal defeat.

An Ollie Watkins double and one from Jacob Ramsey ensured the Villains recorded their first five-game win streak since 1998, and in doing so ended an identical run for the Magpies, who flattered to deceive in the Midlands, especially given recent form.

Head coach Eddie Howe said: “I think it’s one of those performances that we need to analyze and move on quickly. We weren’t there today. Villa did well but by our own standards we were off it. And if that’s the case you’re never going to win.

“We had our moments but we weren’t at our best, that was obvious,” he continued. “We tried to make changes to get a grip on the game but nothing changed the force of the game. Very unlike us, the performance.

“We tried to make subs to impact the game, we were chasing the game. That made us a little more open. But from our perspective, we have to look at ourselves.

“I don’t think it’s a stage to overanalyze. Hopefully, we can use this as a positive where we can highlight what went wrong, because today we didn’t deliver.”

It’s usually Newcastle who fly out of the blocks, but it was Villa who dominated from the off on home turf.

Howe’s side, without Sean Longstaff due to an illness, were shell-shocked in the opening stages and could well have been a goal down within 40 seconds. Villa pounced on a Kieran Trippier error and Watkins streaked free of the Magpies’ backline to fire against Nick Pope’s post.

If that was shot across the bows from Unai Emery’s men, it was not one Newcastle heeded.

The hosts went a goal in front on 11 minutes when the impressive Watkins, in