Emi Buendia’s sweet strike set Aston Villa on their way to a hard-fought 2-0 Premier League win at Newcastle as they maintained their pursuit of the top two. The Argentina international’s sumptuous finish and Ollie Watkins’ late header secured victory at St James’ Park – a first on Tyneside since 2005 – which owed much to two fine first-half saves by Emi Martinez from Sandro Tonali and Lewis Miley as Eddie Howe’s men came up short. The visitors were dominating as Rogers and Watkins repeatedly stretched the Magpies’ defence in an increasingly fractious contest in which referee Jarred Gillett played a central role. Newcastle responded with Miley, Anthony Gordon and Harvey Barnes beginning to make an impact, and Martinez had to pull off a fine one-handed save to repel Miley’s looping 43rd-minute header from a Gordon cross. The former Leicester wide-man saw a second attempt deflected just off target and Gordon was unable to convert Barnes’ far-post cross at full-stretch after Miley had played him in with the home side making a big push.

Source: Irish Examiner January 25, 2026 16:54 UTC