Aston Villa player ratings gallery vs Newcastle United: One scores 10/10 and two 9s in 3-0 win

Aston Villa took a huge step toward a potential European qualification with a dominant 3-0 victory over high-flying Newcastle United on Saturday afternoon. Goals from Jacob Ramsey and Ollie Watkins helped make it seven wins in eight Premier League matches with a commanding showing. The Villans got the better of the Magpies in a physical encounter with the midfield duels vital to the pace and direction of the game. The hosts should’ve been out of sight at half time after creating countless opportunities in the first period, but they were able to hold on for a vital three points by continuing their momentum for the rest of the tie.

To make matters even better, Unai Emery became just the third Premier League manager in history to guide a team to a goal scored in each of the first 18 league matches in charge – after Mike Walker (Norwich City) and Carlo Ancelotti (Chelsea). It was another example of how getting a step ahead with preparation for a fixture can make all the difference as Villa won their battles and crafted the chances needed to win the game. The Lions are now up to 50 points after 31 games, putting them in a strong position for a top six finish.

It was an electric start with a deafening atmosphere at Villa Park as Ollie Watkins was played through on goal and so nearly took the lead within just 30 seconds. The in-form striker fired the ball towards the far corner - beating Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope - but his effort rebounded back off the post. The Magpies responded well with some counter-attacking action as Alexander Isak put Emi Martinez into action, forcing the Argentine into a finger-tip save with a powerful 20-yard shot.

The action didn’t stop there and the home crowd got even louder as Villa took a deserved early lead through Ramsey. John McGinn floated a delightful cross into the far post and Watkins did brilliantly to hold off Kieran Trippier, nodding it into the path of his teammate. The Villa midfielder struck was in a great position to fire it first time into the bottom right-hand corner, giving Pope no chance between the sticks.

Villa were beaming with confidence after their opener and had a pair of huge opportunities to make it two to the good. The first came to Watkins as he was played in brilliantly by Ramsey and then struck hard and low straight at Pope. It then fell back to Ramsey, who was so unfortunate not to find the net for a brace as his effort rattled the crossbar. Unai Emery’s side remained in the ascendency for a while afterward, creating plenty of openings in the opposition’s final third – but there was no second goal for their efforts.

Emery’s men started the second period just as well as they did the first. Played in behind Sven Botman and Fabian Schar by Alex Moreno, Watkins did brilliantly to cut in and create an opening but his attempt was saved by a strong Pope right hand. Newcastle went up the other end in the search for an equaliser in response, but a clean-through Jacob Murphy dragged his shot just wide of the left post. The Magpies had another opening just before the hour mark as it fell to Isak on the edge of the area, but the Sweden international’s shot was central enough for Martinez to tip behind for a corner.

The home side re-established control of the game quickly and thought they’d doubled their lead when Watkins broke through the centre yet again from a well-weighted Moreno pass. The Englishman opened up his body and hit the back of the net via a weak Pope glove, but after a VAR check, he was adjudged to be offside by a fraction of a kneecap. Watkins soon got another chance, though, and he buried it to get his goal. Found by Moreno with a drilled low cross, Watkins took it into his stride, turned Dan Burn inside out and put it through the Newcastle defender’s legs to make it 2-0. Emery normally keeps it calm with celebrations, but even he went crazy on the touchline as Villa Park erupted.

Things got even better as the game approached its end as Watkins got his second of the game and what would’ve been his hat-trick if it wasn’t for such a narrow offside earlier in the game. John McGinn skipped through a couple of Magpies challenges and played it into the feet of Emi Buendia who got it to Watkins at the far post. The put the game beyond doubt by finishing cooly past Pope, who was rooted to his spot. From then on in it was a party atmosphere from the home crowd to guide their players home, all of which put in what has to be the best performance to date under Emery. With that in mind, here are our player ratings, with a first-ever 10/10 given out by Birmingham World.