MusaFormer Premier League stars Micah Richards and Patrick Vieira have delivered their take on Newcastle United’s home defeat against Aston Villa.
The Magpies went into the game looking to build on the momentum of Wednesday’s 3-0 home win against PSV Eindhoven as Eddie Howe’s side secured their place in the knockout rounds of the Champions League for the first time in the club’s history. The United boss was forced into one change as the injury picked up by captain Bruno Guimaraes in the midweek victory left him watching on from the St James Park stands as academy graduate Lewis Miley stepped into the starting eleven.
Much has been made of Newcastle’s record when their influential skipper is not in their side – and the defeat against Villa will only heighten concern regarding his injury absence. The Magpies had actually made a positive start to the contest and only a fine save from visitors keeper Emiliano Martinez prevented Sandro Tonali from putting his side in front with less than a minute on the clock.
Villa opened the scoring with the midway point of the first half approaching with a brilliant strike from Emi Buendia and confirmed their first win at St James Park since 2005 when England striker Ollie Watkins punished a lack of concentration in the United back four by heading home at the far post with two minutes of normal time remaining. Speaking after the game, former Manchester City and Villa star Richards assessed the killer goal and stressed his old club were ‘the better team all in all’.
He told Sky Sports: “Watkins was getting a little bit frustrated. As the ball comes in, he bends his run, Hall is sleeping at the back post and it’s a good finish through the keeper’s legs. I thought Villa deserved it, they were the better team all in all.”
Chances
Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira was also impressed with Villa as they secured all three points on Tyneside for the first time in two decades and strengthened their grip on a place in the top three. There has been some talk Unai Emery’s side were involved in a title battle with leaders Arsenal and Manchester City and their St James Park victory has taken Villa level on points with the latter.
Vieira believes the visitors ‘controlled the tempo of the game’ and was in no doubt they deserved all three points against a below-par Newcastle side.
The former Arsenal captain said: “They are not going away, they really had a good team performance. They controlled the tempo of the game and they were solid at the back even when Newcastle created a few chances in the first half. Villa were in control of the game and deserve the three points.”
Musa
