EPL: Ollie Watkins Inspires Villa to 4-1 Win Over Newcastle

Aston Villa's 4-1 win over Newcastle keeps them in contention for a Champions League spot, with just a two-point gap between the teams.

Aston Villa delivered a sensational performance, beating Newcastle United 4-1 at Villa Park and making a strong statement in the top-five race. Ollie Watkins opened the scoring with a deflected shot that took a wicked bounce off Fabian Schar, becoming Villa's joint-top Premier League goalscorer.

Newcastle equalized through Schar's header, but Watkins soon set up Ian Maatsen to restore Villa's lead with a cool finish. Jacob Ramsey's pass across goal then bounced in off Dan Burn, giving Villa a 3-1 advantage. Substitute Amadou Onana sealed the win with a stunning strike that found the top corner.

The convincing victory lifts Villa to sixth in the table, level on points with fifth-placed Nottingham Forest. Newcastle remain third but are now only two points clear of Villa with five games remaining, setting up a thrilling finish to the season.

Aston Villa's recent form has been remarkable, with 10 wins in their last 11 games across all competitions. The positivity at Villa Park is palpable as Unai Emery's side has propelled themselves back into Champions League contention. Ollie Watkins was instrumental in the first half, hitting the woodwork twice.

Five wins in a row for Unai Emery's Aston Villa 🖐️#AVLNEW pic.twitter.com/HiTmmkYSfR

— Premier League (@premierleague) April 19, 2025

The second half saw Villa dominate, with John McGinn coming close to scoring. However, it was Ian Maatsen, Dan Burn (own goal), and Amadou Onana who scored three goals in 11 minutes, putting the result beyond doubt. Jacob Ramsey nearly added a fifth but his shot hit the post.

Villa's upcoming fixtures include matches against Manchester City and Bournemouth, both crucial for European hopes. Having beaten a resurgent Newcastle side, Emery's team has a good chance of reaching the Champions League for a second consecutive season. The win has certainly boosted their confidence and momentum heading into the final stretch.

Newcastle struggled to click, and Aston Villa's energy overwhelmed them. Alexander Isak was effectively marshaled by Tyrone Mings and Ezri Konsa, limiting him to a tame shot on goal. Newcastle's wingers, Jacob Murphy and Harvey Barnes, were also neutralized by Villa's full-backs, Matty Cash and Ian Maatsen.

Assistant manager Jason Tindall deputized for Eddie Howe, who continues to recover from pneumonia. A win would have given Newcastle an eight-point lead over Villa, but instead, their advantage was reduced to just two points. Newcastle will look to bounce back when they host Ipswich next Saturday, while Villa face a tough trip to Manchester City on Tuesday.