Aston Villa’s recovery gathered another useful three points at St James’ Park, where Johan Manzambi’s first-half header earned Unai Emery’s side a 1-0 win over Newcastle and pushed them towards the middle of the Premier League table.
Key takeaways
- Swiss forward Johan Manzambi scored the only goal after the half-hour mark.
- João Gomes supplied the delivery from which Manzambi headed beyond Lukas Hornicek.
- Villa protected their narrow advantage through the second half to complete the away victory.
- Newcastle have now lost three of their last four matches, adding to a difficult spell in the league.
- Emery’s team face Viking on Wednesday in the third round of the Champions League.
Villa find a way at St James’ Park
There was little need for frills once Villa had their lead. Their early-season troubles are increasingly being replaced by the sort of practical results that tend to change the look of a table, and this was one of them.
Manzambi made the decisive intervention when he met Gomes’ pass with a header, sending the ball past Czech goalkeeper Hornicek. It was enough to separate the sides in a match Villa controlled in the manner required after taking the lead: compact, watchful and unwilling to offer Newcastle a route back in.
The Birmingham club saw out the contest without conceding, leaving Emery with another lift before Wednesday’s Champions League meeting with Viking.
Newcastle’s dip deepens
For Newcastle, the defeat extended an unwelcome run. Three losses from four games have sent the Magpies down the standings, with their recent momentum giving way to a stretch in which margins have repeatedly gone against them.
Villa, by contrast, depart the north-east with a clean sheet, a valuable away win and further evidence that their poor start to the campaign is beginning to recede.
