Aston Villa 3-0 Newcastle: Mags battered in worst display of season so far

An awful performance and brutal end to our run of five straight wins, as Aston Villa inflicted our worst defeat of the season in a 3-0 thrashing at Villa Park.

We were wide open defensively, looked leggy in midfield and lacked quality or cohesion in attack. Mix that with a superb display from the home side and it was the perfect storm, sadly. On another day, they'd have scored four or five, as Unai Emery got the better of Eddie Howe in this tactical battle.

It was a worrying display and hard to watch at times. However, we must remember that this comes after three away games in 10 days, five straight wins and a season that's rarely included off days like this. Does that excuse the performance? No. But all will be forgiven if we can beat top-four rivals Spurs next Sunday. It's time for calm heads and a response a week tomorrow, not an overreaction.

Villa's win sends them six points behind Newcastle and three behind Spurs; who will now move level on points with us should they beat Bournemouth in today's 3pm kick-off.

Eddie Howe made one change, seeing Anthony Gordon come in for Sean Longstaff. Callum Wilson had to settle for a place on the bench and it was good to see Miguel Almiron in the squad after returning from a thigh injury.

Not for the first time in the past two away games, we almost handed the home side an early lead, as Ollie Watkins burst clean through, held off Botman and clipped the outside of the post after just 28 seconds.

A big let off and bright start from Villa, although they too were giving us encouragement by insisting on playing out from the back against our high-pressing attack.

Isak had our first effort, forcing Martinez into a decent stop with a powerful effort from the edge of the box, but we went 1-0 down on the 10-minute mark. It was that man Watkins who caused havoc again, as his cushioned header above Kieran Trippier allowed Jacob Ramsey to smash past Pope.

Another onslaught followed five minutes later. First Watkins had a powerful effort blocked by Pope's outstretched leg, then Ramsey rattled the crossbar after latching onto Moreno's cut-back. In truth, it was an easier chance than his first one and one he should've scored. This felt like the first half at Brentford, only Villa had the form and quality to punish us.

Schar was struggling with Watkins' movement and pace, going into the book for a late challenge into the back of the lively striker. We needed to settle down and stay in the game. The only positive on the half-hour mark was that we were only one down, but we did come close as Murphy's inviting ball across the box only just evaded Isak.

We were growing into the game leading up to the break, yet too many of our attacks were breaking down, with too many players not on the same wavelength. At the other end, it could've been two had Pope not been quick off his line to punch clear.

Few in black and white performed remotely well in the first 45. Gordon wasn't grasping his chance, failing to get the better of an ageing Ashley Young, straying offside and shanking one clearance that almost lead to another Villa opening. Down the other flank, Murphy was also struggling. He found himself in good positions and had space to run into, yet often lacked conviction or final product.

We'd been pretty awful - slower to second balls, all-at-sea defensively, outrun in midfield and lacking quality or ideas in the final third - but Villa were impressive and good value for their lead. In fact, they must've been wondering how they hadn't scored twice. Like last weekend, we needed some Eddie Howe magic and a much improved second half if we were to get anything out of this one.

No changes at the break and a poor start to the second 45 followed, as Watkins had another chance saved by Pope. Murphy flashed a decent effort wide and that was his last act as Callum Wilson and Miguel Almiron replaced him and Anthony Gordon, seeing Willock move out to the left in more of a 4-4-1-1.

Our No 9 almost scored with his first touch, almost glancing Isak's lovely ball beyond Emi Martinez. However, the Argentinian parried clear and the offside went up. Promising signs just seconds after the double change and another arrived moments later, as Isak had an edge of the box effort tipped over the bar by Martinez after a superb dummy sold the Villa defence. We weren't done there, as the resultant corner led to Bruno's brilliant lob into Almiron. He took the ball down at the back post but his effort was smashed into the side netting.

Straight back down the other end, Watkins burst clear (again), only this time his effort squirmed past Pope and into the net. VAR replays saved us, as the goal was disallowed for offside, yet it was soon 2-0 when Watkins was allowed to turn and finish from close range after more good work from the marauding Moreno. Once again, Villa had been impressive, yet this was the most open we'd looked all season and a really disappointing end to our run of three-straight away games.

Burn and Willock were then replaced by Targett and Longstaff. The former had struggled all afternoon, giving away too many free kicks, failing to play out and losing his battles against Buendia. He's done a great job for us and can remain a solid squad player, but days like today remind us why we needed a more well-rounded and natural left-back.

With 15 to play, we had a chance to halve the deficit as Trippier's cutback found Almiron, who took a touch and had his effort blocked by Mings. It hadn't quite fell for us in the final third all day, but we were lucky it was only two at the other end.

A late sub then followed, seeing Elliot Anderson replace Joelinton with 10 minutes remaining. We needed a miracle to get something out of this, but any hopes of a late comeback were totally ended as that man Watkins scored again. It was awful defending down our left-hand side and equally static in the box, as the unmarked striker added another to make it 3-0. Watkins deserved his brace and had got the better of Schar and Botman all day, with the usually reliable pair unable to cope with his pace and movement.

Next up, a truly massive game on Tyneside next Sunday, where top-four rivals Tottenham come to town.

STARTING 11: Pope – Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn – Willock, Bruno, Joelinton – Murphy, Isak, Gordon.

SUBS: Dubravka, Lascelles, Manquillo, Targett, Ritchie, Longstaff, Anderson, Almiron, Wilson