Football Feb 09, 2026

Newcastle 0-2 Aston Villa: Emi Buendia's stunning effort helps Unai Emery's men end 21-year winless run at St James' Park

👤
By Admin
Sports Journalist
Newcastle 0-2 Aston Villa: Emi Buendia's stunning effort helps Unai Emery's men end 21-year winless run at St James' Park

Emi Buendia's spectacular strike and a late goal from Ollie Watkins secured a 2-0 win for Aston Villa and a first victory at Newcastle for nearly 21 years.

Buendia curved his effort into the far corner and away from the outstretched arm of Nick Pope but it was a slender lead for Villa to hold onto throughout the game, until Ollie Watkins latched onto Lucas Digne's cross to seal all three points with two minutes to go.

The victory moves Unai Emery's men level on points with Manchester City in second, with Arsenal still within touching distance at the top.

The Magpies were unbeaten across their last 17 home games against Villa, stretching back to April 2005, but relinquished that record after faltering without their captain, Bruno Guimaraes, once again.

The midfielder was present in the stands but ruled out due to an ankle injury picked up against PSV Eindhoven. Since his arrival, Newcastle are yet to win without him in the starting line-up, drawing six games and losing five.

The best chance of the game would fall to the player tasked with filling that void, Lewis Miley, but his looping header was well-kept out by Emiliano Martinez, who leapt back to claw it away from goal.

Newcastle had other chances to take something from this game, most notably from Sandro Tonali in the opening minute and Harvey Barnes from close-range, but ultimately went goalless in the top-flight for the second game running after also being held by 20th-placed Wolves last time out.

A relentless run of fixtures now continues for Eddie Howe's side as they prepare for a crucial Champions League meeting with holders Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday, which they might have to navigate without Joelinton, who limped off during the defeat.

Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins speaking to Your Site:

"Massive [result], it's a really difficult place to come. The atmosphere and momentum they get from fans. We got the gameplan spot on.

"We didn't play in front of them, we played behind them. They didn't deal with it, they didn't prepare for that.

"I have had some shocking performances here, it was nice to break the duck. Individually, I performed a lot better and collectively, it helps. It's a nice feeling.

"We had a bad result against Everton so to bounce back to get three points on the road against Newcastle, it is big."

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe speaking to Your Site:

"Missed opportunities for us. Sandro has the chance at the start; if it goes in, it's a different game. But it didn't.

"It's a difficult one for us. There were chances and moments there. Their main threats came from long shots and they scored one. It changes the whole game.

"I don't know if it was conditions, it was blustery and windy. We can't use that as an excuse. We had enough time to recover [from PSV] and it's a season where we are constantly challenged.

"Villa have a similar schedule to us but just executed the final bits a bit better. I felt we could get back in the game but the second goal is a killer blow for us."

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery speaking to Your Site:

"We lost last match at home [Everton] and we were being so consistent. We were disappointed and needed some days to react, to recover our form.

"We played fantastically on Thursday [Fenerbahce] and today, we compete fantastically. We were trying to keep our attitude and demands, then they played a fantastic match.

"We needed the goalkeeper, today Emiliano Martinez was extraordinary. We dominated sometimes, created chances and defended. We did a complete match."

Your Site' Lewis Jones:

Is Ezri Konsa the best English centre-back in the Premier League right now? It's hard to argue against it.

Newcastle away is a ferocious fixture. Konsa, instead, made it look calm. That, more than anything, is the mark of top-level defending.

What stood out wasn't crunching tackles or sliding blocks, it was his positioning. Konsa was always where Newcastle didn't want him to be. He read the game two or three seconds quicker than those around him.

There's a maturity to his defending now that suggests a player who truly understands risk. When to step out, when to hold the line. It was a performance that oozed class and intelligence.

This isn't a one-off, either. Konsa's consistency has been quietly excellent for some time, which perhaps explains why he started six of England's World Cup qualifiers.

Right now, Konsa is playing with authority, composure and a footballing brain that elevates those around him.

If England are looking for a defender they can trust when the pressure rises this summer at the World Cup, Konsa is making a compelling case.

Tags:

football report

Share this article

Related Posts

Man City 3-0 Fulham: Premier League title race back on! Pep Guardiola's side move within three points of Arsenal

Man City 3-0 Fulham: Premier League title race back on! Pep Guardiola's side move within three points of Arsenal

Manchester City injected life into the Premier League title race by moving within three points of leaders Arsenal after a convincing 3-0 victory over...

Sunderland 0-1 Liverpool: Virgil van Dijk's header clinches valuable victory as Black Cats' unbeaten home run ended

Sunderland 0-1 Liverpool: Virgil van Dijk's header clinches valuable victory as Black Cats' unbeaten home run ended

Liverpool ended Sunderland's unbeaten run at the Stadium of Light as Virgil van Dijk's second-half header secured a 1-0 win to boost their Champions L...

Roberto De Zerbi, Oliver Glasner or back to Mauricio Pochettino? Where will Spurs turn after Thomas Frank's sacking?

Roberto De Zerbi, Oliver Glasner or back to Mauricio Pochettino? Where will Spurs turn after Thomas Frank's sacking?

Tottenham are looking for a sixth permanent manager in seven years after sacking Thomas Frank - who will they turn to next?As it stands, the early ind...

Premier League: Man City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Aston Villa all in midweek action

Premier League: Man City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Aston Villa all in midweek action

Aston Villa vs Brighton - 7.30pm, WednesdayAston Villa's home form has them third in the Premier League table, having turned Villa Park into a fortre...

Hearts 1-0 Hibs: Tomas Magnusson scores late winner as Scottish Premiership leaders move six points clear

Hearts 1-0 Hibs: Tomas Magnusson scores late winner as Scottish Premiership leaders move six points clear

Substitute Tomas Magnusson scored a late winner as Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts defeated Hibernian 1-0 in a tense Edinburgh derby to tighten th...

West Ham 1-1 Man Utd: Benjamin Sesko scores 96th-minute equaliser to deny Hammers vital win in race for Premier League survival

West Ham 1-1 Man Utd: Benjamin Sesko scores 96th-minute equaliser to deny Hammers vital win in race for Premier League survival

Benjamin Sesko came off the bench to deny West Ham a vital win in their hunt for Premier League survival as his 96th-minute goal earned a 1-1 draw for...