Newcastle, who won four places last season, have plummeted in the new season, not only finishing bottom of the group to end the Champions League, but also winning less and losing more in the league, and the team has slipped to 9th place in the table after the latest wave of four consecutive defeats. After a few days of adjustments, Newcastle faced Villa in the 22nd round of the Premier League, who rose strongly to fourth place in the table under Unai Emery's tutelage, becoming a championship-level powerhouse, especially at home. However, Newcastle's counter-attack in this game was bloody, Scher scored twice in three minutes, and Moreno's own goal led 3-0 at one point. Although Watkins pulled one back, it was difficult to prevent Villa from losing 3-1 and swallowing their first home defeat of the season.
In this game, Emery at home set up a 4-4-2 formation, with Big Martin continuing to guard the final pass, Cash, Konsa, Lenglet and Moreno forming the defence, McGinn, Kamara, Douglas Luiz and Tielemans lined up in midfield, and the double arrows were still Moussa Diaby and Watkins.
Not to be outdone, Newcastle continued the 4-3-3 system with manager Eddie Howe continuing the 4-3-3 system, with Gordon, Isak and Murphy forming a front trident, Longstaff, Guimaraes and rising star Milley forming an iron triangle in midfield, Dan Byrne, Botman, Schell and Kieran Trippier in defence from left to right, with Dubravka in goal.
After the game began, Villa unsurprisingly took control of the initiative and stormed around the Newcastle goal. The Magpies were clearly prepared, with defensive counter-attacks and set-pieces to contain their opponents, and the effect was quite outstanding. In the 33rd minute, Kieran Trippier crossed from a corner, Milley at the front point failed to compete for the top, Schell outflanked and pushed in the middle, because the distance was too close, Big Martin didn't even have time to react, and watched the ball go into the net, Villa fell behind 0-1.
In the 36th minute, Newcastle continued to work hard, Kieran Trippier took another corner, Konsa cleared not far away, Gordon volleyed from outside the box, rubbed against Lenglet to refract, and then hit the underside of the crossbar, and Scher scored again from close range. In just 3 minutes, Villa conceded 2 goals in a row and fell behind 0-2 at half-time.
After returning to the pitch, Newcastle's counter-attack was still sharp. In the 52nd minute, Almiron advanced a cross from the left, Jacob Murphy followed up with a push, Moreno flew to block, and had no choice but to block the ball into his own goal, and Newcastle led 3-0.
In the 61st minute, Watkins pushed forward and sent a through ball, Botman failed to intercept it, Moussa Diaby shook off the attacking Dubravka, and the shot from a tight angle was cleared in front of the goal line. Unleashed unstable and immediately made adjustments, making three substitutions in a row, with Zaniolo, Ramsey and Leon Bailey coming off the bench.
The effect of this substitution was immediate, in the 71st minute, Douglas Luiz sent a long pass over the top, Leon Bailey cut in a cross from the right, Watkins grabbed a point in front of the goal and pushed it into the net, Villa pulled one back, 1-3!
Two minutes later, Leon Bailey sent in a through ball and Watkins stepped in to score a one-on-one shot, but Newcastle escaped with a slight offside. In the 89th minute, Almiron made a clever back-heel pass in the penalty area, Longstaff pushed from close range, and Big Martin saved the ball with great force. In the end, Newcastle won 3-1 against Villa, ending their own four-game losing streak and handing Villa their first home defeat of the season.
It is worth mentioning that Villa's unbeaten run at home in the Premier League across the season has broken 17 consecutive Premier League home games, which has slowed them down to catch up with Manchester City and Arsenal and remain in fourth place. However, Villado only lead by three points in one game and Tottenham see hope of returning to the Champions League places.