Newcastle crush 10-man Aston Villa 3-0 in Premier League after Jhon Duran sees red

LONDON – It was a physical English Premier League contest between Newcastle United and Aston Villa on Dec 26, and Magpies boss Eddie Howe would be pleased that his side are finding form ahead of the new year.

The home side won 3-0 at St James’ Park with goals from Anthony Gordon, Alexander Isak and Joelinton, while Jhon Duran was sent off for the visitors who crashed to a fifth straight away defeat.

Victory in the last home game of the year moved Newcastle up to fifth on 29 points – ahead of Bournemouth on goal difference – while Villa fell to ninth, a point behind Howe’s side.

In their quest to return to the top four and the Champions League, Newcastle are in a purple patch of form with three straight league wins, scoring 11 goals and keeping three clean sheets in the process.

They got off to a great start in the second minute when they won the ball back in midfield before Joelinton found Gordon on the left, where he curled a shot past Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez into the top corner.

As Villa looked for an equaliser, the game got increasingly physical with fouls all across the pitch leading to a stop-start match and the visitors did test Martin Dubravka in Newcastle’s goal.

But they shot themselves in the foot when Duran was sent off in the 32nd minute for a straight red card, for violent conduct after stamping on Fabian Schar following a tackle.

Duran, who has scored 12 goals in all competitions for Villa this season, first stamped Schar’s leg and then his back before falling over. As he walked off the pitch, the livid Colombian kicked a water bottle before going down the tunnel.

“We conceded early and that’s demoralising. And then the red card happens and that’s tough,” Villa defender Ezri Konsa said.

“From where I was, it looked like Jhon Duran couldn’t move but we can’t change it now. It killed the game, especially as he’s been in good form. We have to move on.”

Tensions flared after the first half ended, leading to Newcastle assistant manager Jason Tindall and a Villa analyst also being sent off.

Newcastle continued to probe Villa’s defence and doubled their lead in the 59th minute when Bruno Guimaraes slipped a ball through for Jacob Murphy who squared the ball to Isak for a tap-in.

It was the his 24th goal of the calendar year while the 25-year-old striker has scored in each of his last five league matches.

“I love Alexander Isak, he has unbelievable quality. He’s the right age, has the right athletic profile, I signed him and love him. I wouldn’t swop him for anyone,” Howe said.

Villa boss Unai Emery made a triple substitution but it made no difference. Joelinton completed the rout in stoppage time when he nicked the ball in midfield, made an unimpeded run and fired an emphatic strike from the edge of the box into the top corner.

But Howe is not resting on his laurels yet, with a trip to Old Trafford on Dec 30 to come in their final game of 2024.

“I will go back and watch the game again and see where we can improve,” he said. “We go to Manchester United on Monday with real quality and confidence.” REUTERS