Newcastle United and Aston Villa entered Saturday’s Premier League opening day with high expectations, and the hosts clobbered the visitors 5-1 to leave St. James’ Park dreaming over what’s to come for its Magpies.
Alexander Isak scored two goals to join Sandro Tonali and super subs Callum Wilson and Harvey Barnes on the score sheet, as Moussa Diaby’s early equalizer became a blip for the hungry Magpies.
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Ollie Watkins starred for Villa, assisting the Diaby goal, but Unai Emery’s side will be more focused on a scary injury to Tyrone Mings. The standout center back was stretchered off the pitch in emotional distress following an apparent knee injury.
There will be no rest for the Magpies, who visit Manchester City at 3pm ET Saturday, Aug. 19, while Villa hosts Everton at 9am ET the following day.
Magpies flex depth in impressive start to top-four defense
An even first half that was delightful for both sets of fans and neutrals turned decisively in favor of the hosts by the time that second frame found its footing on Tyneside.
Sandro Tonali and Moussa Diaby played a first half of “Which of our transfers could be more influential to our sides?” as Tonali played a role in both of Newcastle’s goals to prod a 2-1 lead at St. James’ Park. Diaby scored a goal and could’ve well had two.
But the Magpies just cooked up dangerous chance after dangerous chance in the second half, showing off to the tune of nine “big chances” according to FBref.com.
Yes the Newcastle project remains young and this is the first year back in the Champions League, but only so many conditional statements can be applied when a team leads 3-1 and brings two experienced Premier League forwards off the bench to add goals.
Maybe a top-four return isn’t as crazy as it seems?
How to watch Newcastle vs Aston Villa live, stream link, time
Kickoff: 12:30pm ET, Saturday (August 12)
TV channel: NBC
Online: Watch online via NBCSports.com
Here’s Newcastle boss Eddie Howe, from the BBC:
On what he wants for club: “We want the supporters to dream. We have to focus on Manchester City away. It’s the hardest fixture in the Premier League so that is a sobering thought for us. We’re looking at can we win the game fully in the knowledge they are the best team, they have been the bench mark.”
On Sandro Tonali’s goal, assist on debut: “When you consider it’s his first game in England, how calm he was before the match. He is just taking it in its stride and he was magnificent for us.”
On Newcastle’s attack: “We’ve worked very hard at trying to give teams problems with our midfield shape. We try and make it as unpredictable as we can. I have to praise those players, they all have different qualities.
“Newcastle are strong at home and they started winning and we had good chances with Ollie [Watkins]. In the second half we tried to change and tried to control the match but when they scored the third goal the match was finished. But Newcastle deserved in 90 minutes to win and then we had some momentums that were good but it wasn’t enough today.
On Tyrone Mings’ injury: “This week is very sad for us with Emilio Buendia [and] today with Tyrone Mings. We lost today but the worst today was the injury with Tyrone. We have to take some days in reflection and then prepare for the game against Everton.”
Newcastle brace-bagger Alexander Isak joined NBC’s crew of Rebecca Lowe, Robbie Mustoe, Robbie Earle, and Tim Howard on the pitch at St. James’ Park.
Here are some highlights from the chat:
- “We’ve been training as hard as possible to be ready. Full speed, 90 minutes, and that’s what got us the win.”
- “Aston Villa plays very high with the back line and we had to hurt them there and I think we did. We have a lot of speed and really need to use that.”
- “Of course I want to stay on [for a hat trick], however I had enough to score a hat trick today so that’s on me. We get some fresh legs, and Callum and Harvey both come on and score. It’s a good win for the team.”
That, my friends, is an exclamation point.
Harvey Barnes carries an incisive through ball from Jacob Murphy for maybe 40 yards to the Villa doorstep and pops it past Emiliano Martinez, who has had better days.
Newcastle has currently been credited with nine big chances by FBref.com. Nine!
What a joy for Newcastle to be able to bring Callum Wilson off the bench.
VAR reviews a pair of possible offside calls, one for Wilson and another for the provider Harvey Barnes.
Both withstand the scrutiny and Newcastle has a 4-1 lead over Villa. Some would’ve predicted a win here, but this?
NBC broadcaster Peter Drury mentions that this is Wilson’s fourth-straight opening day goal for the Magpies (Forest once, West Ham twice).
Not a bad haul, and the 31-year-old also did it for Eddie Howe at Bournemouth before coming to St. James’ Park.
Bruno Guimaraes is shown a yellow card for asking for a yellow card. Meta.
Eddie Howe removes Alexander Isak moments after the Swede just misses out on a hat trick, plugging Callum Wilson into the fray.
Anthony Gordon finishes an influential Week 1, too, and he’ll go off for former Leicester City star Harvey Barnes.
3-1 Magpies.
Matty Cash, buddy... yeesh.
Ollie Watkins continues his pressure and wizardry, with his hard shot parried by Nick Pope but onto the path of Villa’s Polish international.
Cash just needs to guide it home under a bit of duress but instead smashes it past the near post and Newcastle keeps hold of its 3-1 lead.
This after Diego Carlos replaces captain John McGinn.
Ezri Konsa lost track of the ball. Alexander Isak did not.
The Swede gets his second goal of the season soon after, taking the loose ball and scooping it over a flayed Emiliano Martinez to give the Magpies a 3-1 lead.
Villa has the firepower to get back in this, but that’s a mistake that certainly at least prepares the proverbial final nail to be driven into this one’s coffin.
We begin the second half with Unai Emery plugging influential Belgian acquisition Youri Tielemans into the midfield.
The Villans will bid to come back from 2-1 down at St. James’ Park without Leon Bailey, who makes way for Tielemans.
It should look more like a traditional 4-4-2 now, but we’ll keep our eyes on the formation for an Emery tactical wrinkle or two.
On we go, and Matty Cash is into the books for a yellow card. He joins Douglas Luiz, Emi Martinez, and Lucas Digne as Villa has been playing on the edge all game.
That was some half, and included 10 minutes stoppage following the scary injury to Tyrone Mings and a late controversial moment after Emiliano Martinez came way out of his goal to take down Miguel Almiron but was only shown a yellow.
Newcastle had more of the ball and more of the goals but the danger was everywhere.
New boys Sandro Tonali and Moussa Diaby were dangerous, and Tonali played a role in both of Newcastle’s goals while Bruno Guimaraes oozed class for the hosts, too.
Ollie Watkins is carrying over his fine form from last season for Villa.
Possession and xG favor Newcastle but Villa’s had seven of the game’s 12 shot attempts.
Aston Villa mainstay Tyrone Mings is down in immense pain following a coming-together with Alexander Isak.
The pair were charging hard for a loose ball and go shoulder-to-shoulder, Mings going a little off balance and tumbling to the turf.
That tumble was caused by something in his right knee, and Mings is holding it and writhing on the ground. The stretcher is out for the 30-year-old, and hopefully it’s not as bad as it looks for Mings.
Pau Torres will enter the fray for Mings, and the ex-Villarreal man won’t have any problems with the system following his reunion with boss Unai Emery.
Get well soon, Tyrone.
Alexander Isak has Newcastle in front off a brilliant free kick routine but is it only for the moment?
VAR has a long look before affirming the goal!
Eddie Howe drew it up just like this, a short free kick played to Sandro Tonali and a brilliant lid-opening ball over the line of charging players.
Sven Botman slides to knock it back to the center of the 18 and Alexander Isak fires home.
2-1, Newcastle. What a start!
Ollie Watkins does what he can with a hard cross, nodding it back toward the far post.
New boy Moussa Diaby is there and makes no mistake with a solid side-footing offering past Nick Pope.
What style and pace early as Villa has come back for 1-1.
Anthony Gordon earned a start over Harvey Barnes and he’s paying early dividends.
The ex-Everton man has been a menace on the left side, and he whips in a cross for big-money signing Sandro Tonali.
The Italian has plenty to do in going airborne to slap the ball past Emiliano Martinez, who had already made a big save in the contest.
1-0 to the hosts.
Now to the other end, where Moussa Diaby is pulled too wide by a through ball and Nick Pope saves from an acute angle.
Kieran Trippier captains Eddie Howe’s Newcastle, and it’s a big XI.
Sandro Tonali joins Joelinton and Bruno Guimaraes in the midfield, while Anthony Gordon keeps Harvey Barnes on the bench.
Newcastle’s depth flex continues with Callum Wilson and Elliot Anderson amongst the subs.
⚫️ HOWAY THE LADS! ⚪️#NEWAVL // #NUFC pic.twitter.com/fJOlYRdlWE
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) August 12, 2023
It’s a surprisingly-loaded bench for Aston Villa, as Diego Carlos and preseason starlet Jaden Philogene are joined by new boys Youri Tielemans and Pau Torres.
Ezri Konsa starts next to Tyrone Mings at CB, and it’s Moussa Diaby joining Leon Bailey and Ollie Watkins in a potentially-electric front three.
Your Aston Villa team to start the @PremierLeague season at St. James' Park. 👊 #NEWAVL pic.twitter.com/CZF0HIwG5z
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) August 12, 2023
Aston Villa injuries
OUT: Emiliano Buendia (torn ACL - suffered on Wednesday), Alex Moreno (hamstring), Jacob Ramsey (foot)
Newcastle United injuries
OUT: Emil Krafth (knee), Javi Manquillo (groin) | QUESTIONABLE: Fabian Schar (thigh), Joe Willock (thigh)