Newcastle United 0-2 Aston Villa Player Ratings: Buendia, Watkins Shine for Visitors in One-sided Domination

Aston Villa produced an impressive performance to beat Newcastle United 2–0 at St. James’ Park in the Premier League.

Many expected a close and tense match, but Villa were clearly the sharper side. Under manager Unai Emery, they played with confidence and discipline. The key difference was finishing. While Newcastle created chances, they failed to take them. Villa, by contrast, were calm and ruthless when it mattered.

Newcastle pushed hard for long periods and spent plenty of time in Villa’s half. However, their shots lacked accuracy and composure. Time and again, promising moves ended without a goal, leaving the home fans frustrated.

Villa made their chances count. Emiliano Buendía opened the scoring with a superb long-range strike that caught the eye and lifted the visitors. Late in the match, Ollie Watkins wrapped up the win with a simple header from close range. It was a classic striker’s goal and ended any hopes of a Newcastle comeback.

In the end, Villa fully deserved the win. For Newcastle, it was one of those afternoons where effort did not match the final result, and the home crowd left disappointed.

Newcastle United Player Ratings vs Aston Villa

Goalkeeper

Nick Pope - 7.0: It's hard to fault Pope for the two goals, especially Buendía's rocket. He made an impressive six saves, including a couple of fantastic stops to keep Newcastle in the contest for as long as he could. His distribution was a bit wayward, with only a quarter of his long balls finding a teammate. Despite conceding twice, he was one of Newcastle's better performers on a disappointing day.

Defenders

Kieran Trippier - 6.0: A surprisingly quiet game from the captain. We're used to seeing him be a major creative outlet, but he struggled to make an impact here. He was solid enough defensively but offered little going forward, with his crosses not quite finding their mark. A pretty standard, if underwhelming, performance by his high standards.

Sven Botman - 6.5: A real mixed bag from the big Dutchman. He was a beast in the air, winning most of his aerial duels and making a massive 10 clearances. However, an error that led to a shot blemished his copybook. He looked dominant for large parts of the game but that moment of lapsed concentration was costly.

Lewis Hall - 6.0: An energetic display from the full-back, who was always looking to get involved. He recovered the ball well and made some decent tackles. Unfortunately, he was also guilty of an error leading to a shot and lost possession 15 times. There's potential there, but the final product needs a bit of polishing.

Malick Thiaw - 5.5: Not his best day at the office. Like his defensive partners, he was also responsible for an error leading to a shot. He struggled to contain Villa's fluid attack and looked a bit shaky at times. He won his tackles but was caught out of position more than once from our perspective.

Midfielders

Sandro Tonali - 7.5: The standout outfield player for Newcastle, without a doubt. He was everywhere, making a remarkable seven tackles and driving forward with the ball whenever he could. He was a bundle of energy and intent, trying his best to drag his team back into the game. It's just a shame his teammates weren't on the same wavelength.

Joelinton - 6.0: His afternoon was cut short by an unfortunate injury early in the second half. Before that, he was his typical combative self, drawing fouls and putting in a shift. He didn't have enough time to truly stamp his authority on the match, though.

Lewis Miley - 7.0: A really promising performance from the young midfielder. He showed a creative spark that was lacking elsewhere, creating three chances for his teammates. He looked comfortable and composed on the ball, linking play nicely between midfield and attack. A bright spot in a gloomy result for the Magpies.

Forwards

Anthony Gordon - 5.5: A frustrating afternoon for Gordon. He worked hard and created a couple of chances, but his big miss will be what's remembered. When the opportunity came, he couldn't provide the clinical finish his team desperately needed. He was subbed off after an hour, which summed up his day.

Harvey Barnes - 5.0: Oh, Harvey. This was a tough one to watch. From our perspective, he could have had a hat-trick on another day. He got into all the right positions and had five shots, but his finishing was just... off. We noticed his frustration growing with each missed chance. It was a day to forget for the winger.

Yoane Wissa - 5.5: Largely anonymous. The game seemed to pass him by and he struggled to get involved in any meaningful way. He had one header on target but was otherwise a passenger before being substituted. Newcastle needed more from their frontman.

Substitutes

Substitutes - 6.0: The changes were made to try and inject some life into Newcastle's attack, but they couldn't turn the tide. Jacob Ramsey, coming on for the injured Joelinton, had a decent chance but couldn't convert. The other subs struggled to make a significant impact against a well-organized Villa defence.

Manager

E. Howe - 5.5: His team created enough chances to win the game, but the lack of a clinical edge was their downfall. The game plan seemed to work in terms of getting into dangerous areas, but the execution was poor. He'll be deeply frustrated that his side came away with nothing after what they created.

Aston Villa Player Ratings vs Newcastle United

Goalkeeper

Emiliano Martínez - 8.5: What stood out to us was his commanding presence. Absolutely immense between the sticks and our Man of the Match. He made four crucial saves, including a stunning stop from a Lewis Miley header. He was calm, collected, and a huge reason Villa left with a clean sheet. A world-class performance.

Defenders

Matty Cash - 6.5: A steady and reliable performance from the right-back. He didn't do anything spectacular, but he didn't have to. He was positionally sound, efficient with the ball, and kept his side of the pitch locked down. A professional, no-fuss display.

Ezri Konsa - 7.0: The captain led by example at the heart of the defence. He made six clearances and was a calm head when Newcastle started to apply pressure. He marshalled the backline brilliantly, ensuring they stayed compact and organized throughout. A real leader's performance.

Pau Torres - 6.5: Strong in the air and composed on the ball. He won the majority of his aerial duels and contributed to Villa's solid defensive effort. He did miss a decent headed chance from a corner, but defensively he was very solid before being substituted.

Ian Maatsen - 7.0: We were impressed by Maatsen. He was tenacious in the tackle, winning all of his challenges, and provided good support going forward. The late yellow card was the only minor blot on an otherwise excellent performance. He looks like a great addition to this Villa side.

Midfielders

Youri Tielemans - 7.5: The creative hub for Villa until his substitution. His range of passing and vision were superb, creating two key chances for his teammates. His delivery from set-pieces was a constant threat. His influence was clear and Villa managed the game well even after he went off.

Amadou Onana - 7.0: A powerhouse in the middle of the park. He broke up play effectively with two interceptions and three tackles, and was very secure in possession. He provided the steel that allowed Villa's more creative players to flourish. An understated but vital performance.

Emiliano Buendía - 8.0: Scored an absolute stunner to open the scoring, a goal worthy of winning any match. Beyond the goal, he was a livewire, constantly looking for the ball and trying to make things happen. He was a thorn in Newcastle's side until he was taken off. A fantastic attacking display.

Jadon Sancho - 5.5: A really quiet and disappointing outing. We barely noticed him. He struggled to get into the game and had little influence on proceedings before being hooked before the hour mark. He lost the ball too easily and just didn't look up for the fight.

Morgan Rogers - 6.5: A real mixed bag. He provided a smart assist for Buendía's opener which was a moment of quality. However, he was also incredibly wasteful in possession, losing the ball a staggering 27 times. The assist bumps up his rating, but he needs to be much tidier on the ball.

Forwards

Ollie Watkins - 8.0: He worked tirelessly all game and got his reward with the match-sealing goal. His movement was a constant problem for the Newcastle defence. He missed a big chance earlier on, but he kept going and showed a true striker's instinct to be in the right place at the right time for his header. Brilliant stuff.

Substitutes

Substitutes - 7.5: A game-changing contribution from the bench. Lucas Digne, in particular, made a huge impact, coming on to provide the perfect cross for Watkins' goal. The substitutes helped Villa see out the game comfortably, with Tyrone Mings shoring things up at the back. Emery's changes were spot on.

Manager

U. Emery Etxegoien - 8.5: A tactical masterclass from the Spaniard. His team was perfectly set up to absorb pressure and hit Newcastle on the counter. They were disciplined, organized, and clinical. His substitutions were timed perfectly and had the desired effect. A flawless away performance orchestrated by the manager.