Aston Villa claimed a landmark 2-0 victory at St James' Park as Emi Buendia's spectacular strike and a late Ollie Watkins goal ended a wait of nearly 21 years for a win away to Newcastle United. The visitors' clinical edge contrasted with Newcastle's wastefulness on a night when long-standing records fell and the Premier League table tightened at the top.
Buendia curved his effort into the far corner beyond Nick Pope's outstretched arm to give Unai Emery's side a slender lead that they protected for most of the contest. With Newcastle unable to convert a series of promising openings, Watkins finally settled the match by latching onto Lucas Digne's cross in the closing minutes, moving Villa level on points with Manchester City in second and keeping Arsenal within sight at the summit.
Villa's spectacular opener changes the mood on Tyneside
Villa's opener arrived via a strike of the highest quality from Buendia. He shaped his effort superbly, sending the ball arcing into the far corner and away from Pope's desperate reach, a finish that briefly stunned St James' Park and underlined the visitors' confidence.