‘It’s not over, not over yet,’ blared the PA speakers at Villa Park in the moments before kick-off.
Two hours later, Aston Villa had showed their rivals for a Champions League spot just how true that is.
The 2006 hit by Klaxons proved the ideal soundtrack to the afternoon as Unai Emery’s side demolished Newcastle to move within two points of their visitors and level with fifth-placed Nottingham Forest, who play Tottenham in north London on Monday.
Showing no signs of their agonising exit to Paris Saint-Germain four days earlier, Villa also hit the woodwork three times.
They were ahead with barely 30 seconds on the clock through the recalled Ollie Watkins and though Fabian Schar had Newcastle level by half-time, Ian Maatsen deservedly restored Villa’s lead after an hour.
Aston Villa beat Newcastle 4-1 in a boost to their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League
It was perfect response for Villa after being knocked out of Europe by PSG on Tuesday night
Watkins put Aston Villa ahead after just 33 seconds on his return to the starting line up
An own-goal from Dan Burn and a glorious strike from substitute Amadou Onana produced a scoreline that reflected Villa’s dominance and they will travel to Manchester City on Tuesday – another crucial fixture for their Champions League prospects – with their confidence soaring.
Villa could not have hoped for a better start. Sandro Tonali’s poor clearance fell straight to Youri Tielemans, who wasted no time sending Watkins through.
The deflection off Schar gave Nick Pope no chance and Villa were ahead after 32 seconds, Watkins drawing level with Gabriel Agbonlahor on 74 Premier League goals for the club.
Watkins was preferred to Marcus Rashford here and he was a fraction away from a second in the fifth minute.
Working space outside Schar after collecting John McGinn’s flick-on, Watkins’ drive beat Pope but smacked the crossbar.
Newcastle were struggling. Schar was booked for bringing down Watkins as Villa Park screamed for a red card.
Then the Villa No11 took a boot in the face from Kieran Trippier – accidentally – and Marco Asensio was flattened by Pope as they contested a cross.
Yet Villa were crestfallen in the 18th minute when they switched off at the back and Newcastle drew level. When they failed to clear a free-kick properly, Ezri Konsa played Schar onside from Harvey Barnes’ cross and the unmarked Schar’s far-post header crept through the legs of Emi Martinez.
Watkins’ goal-bound shot deflected off Fabian Schar and wrong-footed keeper Nick Pope
Schar equalised for the visitors as he nodded past Emi Martinez from Harvey Barnes’ cross
Schar scored for the second successive game as the Magpies hit back in this crucial clash
Ian Maatsen put his side 2-1 up as he netted his first Premier League goal from Watkins’ pass
Asensio missed two penalties at Southampton last week and his error moments later was arguably worse. The Spaniard was picked out by Ian Maatsen’s cross only to miskick six yards out.
The near-misses kept coming: Asensio dinked a free-kick from the left, Watkins’ made perfect contact with a header and was denied by the post.
Newcastle were edging into the game. Tonali tested Martinez with a low 25-yarder and Tino Livramento’s effort was blocked.
In between those chances, Morgan Rogers saw his shot turned away by Pope.
Watkins screamed for a penalty in the final minute of the half after tumbling under Schar’s challenge.
Newcastle fans had been growing restless at referee Jarred Gillett but they were certainly thankful for him then.
Villa continued to force the pace after half-time. Tonali was stationed on the post to turn away Tielemans’ header before Rogers charged through and saw his shot blocked brilliantly by Schar.
Then McGinn and Rogers were thwarted in quick succession by Pope. At the other end, Bruno Guimaraes tricked his way into the box and played a clever pass for Alexander Isak, with Martinez relieved the shot was weak and at his body.
Dan Burn then inadvertently turned Jacob Ramsey’s cross into his own goal shortly after
Amadou Onana capped with victory as he scored with a sublime finish from the edge of the box
Unai Emery’s side are up to sixth, but they are just two points behind Newcastle in third
Jason Tindall was in charge of Newcastle amid the continued absence of Eddie Howe
Villa made their pressure tell shortly after the hour mark. Asensio found Watkins midway inside the visitors’ half and Jacob Murphy could not stop the overlapping Maatsen from racing on to the pass and finishing impressively across Pope.
McGinn was replaced by Jacob Ramsey after a marvellous performance and within seconds of his introduction, Ramsey created the third.
The midfielder found it too easy to beat Trippier and when Tielemans missed the cross at the near post, the ball spun off Dan Burn and trickled beyond Pope.
Villa were roaring now. Rogers went one-on-one with Pope and though the goalkeeper stopped that one, he was helpless when Rogers kept the ball alive and Onana swept it into the roof of the net from the edge of the box.
Soon it was Ramsey’s turn to go close, hitting the inside of the post on the angle as the crowd fired up the chants of ‘Ole’. It’s not over yet, not by a long chalk.
