MY ACCOUNT
Kieran Trippier’s second goal in as many games gave Newcastle their third straight Premier League win as they beat Aston Villa 1-0.
The Magpies thought they had a penalty just after the half-hour mark when Calum Chambers brought down Joe Willock. But a lengthy VAR check deemed the contact to have been outside the box.
Yet it made no difference to Trippier, who fired the resulting free-kick past Emiliano Martinez in the Villa goal thanks to an Emiliano Buendia deflection.
Steven Gerrard’s side had an equaliser ruled out after 60 minutes with Ollie Watkins’ tap-in given offside by VAR.
Victory for the hosts takes them four points clear of the relegation zone with a game in hand over 18th-placed Norwich.
Newcastle manager Howe said: “It wasn’t the prettiest – and we’re probably the first to admit that – but I think it was beautiful at the same time.
“I thought the players gave everything to what was a difficult game – I don’t think either side played the perfect game.
“”In weeks gone by, we might have lost that game – or not won it – and now I think we are showing newfound resilience and confidence, so that is great to see.”
Aston Villa, meanwhile, remain in the bottom half and Gerrard said: “I think everything was wrong today. I don’t think we were at it – we were miles away from where I want to be.
“We didn’t deserve any luck today because you make your own luck so, inevitably, we are going away with what we deserve.
“We’ve got to be careful because you can be dragged down and you can be dragged down very quickly. We’ve got lots of work to do.”
Did you know?
Newcastle have won three consecutive league games for the first time since November 2018.
Aston Villa are winless in their last 13 Premier League visits to Newcastle.
The hosts have scored a direct free-kick goal in each of their last three league games.
Gerrard has lost five of his 12 Premier League matches as Aston Villa manager, one more than he lost in his last 76 league matches as Rangers manager.
Since Trippier’s maiden Premier League season in 2014-15, the Newcastle full-back has the second-best conversion ratio from direct free-kicks of the 83 players to have attempted 10 or more in that time
