Isak scores again as Newcastle beat 10-man Villa
Alexander Isak continued his fine goalscoring form as Newcastle defeated 10-man Aston Villa to move fifth in the Premier League table.
The hosts went ahead after only 80 seconds through Anthony Gordon's excellent, curled finish from just inside the penalty area after Joelinton had led a charge forwards following team-mate Sandro Tonali's interception inside his own half.
Villa's chances of getting back in the game suffered a blow in the 32nd minute when striker Jhon Duran was shown a straight red card for violent conduct after a challenge on Fabian Schar.
Referee Anthony Taylor ruled Duran had deliberately stamped on Schar's back after the Newcastle defender had slid in for a challenge, although the 21-year-old Colombia striker, who later kicked a water bottle in frustration, claimed the contact had been accidental.
Villa boss Unai Emery was unhappy with Taylor's decision and frustrated he was not told by video assistant referee (VAR) Graham Scott to review the incident.
"Always I am supporting VAR but you have to use VAR," said Emery. "The referee was the only person in the stadium who couldn't take his time. He has to be intelligent to take time and get the right decision.
"In this case you have to use the VAR. He has to be smart, and calm. It has to be like that. The red card more or less kills the game, it changes it completely."
Isak, 25, scored a hat-trick in Saturday's 4-0 win at Ipswich Town and the Sweden forward added Newcastle's second against Villa early in the second half.
He converted from close range following Jacob Murphy's low cross from the right wing for his 11th Premier League goal of the season and his seventh in six games.
Newcastle sealed a superb victory when Joelinton took advantage of a loose Villa pass from Amadou Onana to curl a 92nd-minute third past Emiliano Martinez.
The Magpies' win took them above Villa and last season's champions Manchester City, while Villa, after a fifth successive away league defeat, slipped to ninth.
Newcastle's victory continues recent resurgence
Jhon Duran's dismissal was his first red card for Aston Villa
Last season Newcastle played in the Champions League, only to miss out on European football for this campaign. But this victory, their third in a row in the league and fourth successive win in all competitions, raises hopes of a return to continental football for 2025-26.
Since losing 4-2 at Brentford on 7 December, Newcastle have scored 14 goals in four games, with a pair of 4-0 wins over Leicester and Ipswich in the league to add to this Boxing Day success, plus a 3-1 win over Brentford to move into the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup.
"I have to complement the players and how well they are playing, it is a good set of results and performances," said boss Eddie Howe.
"We looked like we could score at any moment, the attacking players have their confidence back, which is great to see, and we look in a great place.
"Alexander Isak has unbelievable quality. He's the right age, has the right athletic profile, I signed him and love him. I wouldn't swap him for anyone."
Against Ipswich, the Magpies scored after only 26 seconds, and Howe's side again got off to a flying start with Tonali and Joelinton playing vital roles before England international Gordon scored his fourth goal of the campaign.
Duran has netted 12 goals this season, including the winner in a memorable 1-0 Champions League victory against Bayern Munich, but will now miss Villa's next three games, all of which are at home - the Premier League matches versus Brighton and Leicester and the FA Cup third-round tie with West Ham.
Newcastle piled on the pressure after Duran's dismissal with Schar being denied by Martinez, who later produced a superb save to deny Tonali.
The hosts thought they had got a second when Isak pulled the ball back and Bruno Guimaraes finished, but Isak had failed to keep the ball in play before passing.
An altercation at half-time saw Newcastle assistant manager Jason Tindall dismissed, while Villa brought on Ollie Watkins in an attempt to rescue the game.
But the England striker saw little of the ball as Newcastle used their man advantage well. After Isak's 59th-minute effort made it 2-0, the Swede then had a goal disallowed, before Jacob Murphy hit the crossbar from eight yards out with the goal unguarded.
Newcastle thought they had got a third late on when Ezri Konsa's clearance bounced in off Guimaraes, although it was ruled out as the ball had hit the Brazilian's elbow.
But the third goal eventually did come in the 92nd minute from Joelinton as the home fans celebrated a fully deserved three points, with Villa having a day to forget.
Duran showed his frustration by kicking a water bottle and will now miss Aston Villa's next three matches
Source: BBC Sport
