Aston Villa 1 Newcastle 3 – Saturday 14 February 2026 5.45pm
Instant fan/writer reaction from some of our regular contributors on The Mag.
Nat Seaton:
‘GET IN!!
What a brilliant result from a crazy game.
I won’t bother about all the incorrect decisions and just concentrate on all the good. To come from behind (forget about the 10 men) and win like this was amazing.
Sandro scoring two and Nick getting his birthday goal are big plusses.
How about a home draw next round…?’
Billy Miller:
‘I can’t stand VAR but, oh my, what an abysmal refereeing display.
The officials in our country are absolutely appalling.
At least with VAR the goal would have been disallowed and we would have got the clear penalty.
Fortunately, it didn’t cost us.
A decent performance aided by a red card helped us deservedly come back from behind.
Two sweet Sandro strikes and a goal for the big birthday boy sends us into the fifth round.’
Simon Ritter:
‘One word to sum up an Eddie Howe team: resilience.
Newcastle United achieved a brilliant result after the referee and linesmen tried to help Villa commit floodlight robbery.
There were so many positives.
Tonali has been well below his normal levels for about three months but came good at Villa Park, where the hosts had not lost for yonks after leading at half-time.
Woltemade was much more involved playing deeper.
Most importantly, justice was done after an offside goal gave Villa the lead, then a yellow for Digne that should have been a red, then the denial of a blatant penalty.
I want two things on Monday: a home tie in the fifth round and the announcement of a long suspension for Kavanagh and his equally incompetent assistants.’
GToon:
‘Justice for the Geordie 11.
I haven’t seen a worse performance from a ref and linesman in over 50 years.
The Villa goal is a yard offside, Digne gashes Murphy’s shin, Digne handles the ball in the area and it’s given as outside.
I went from being 50/50 about wanting to win today to absolutely raging.
As Shearer said, that’s what happens to the officials when they don’t have VAR, their comfort blanket.
For various reasons I’m absolutely buzzing about beating that lot.
I feel great.
Angie, it’s your lucky night…The tely buttons are yours!’
Matt Busby said…:
‘Get in!
Justice served after a horror show from those officiating in the first 44.5 minutes.
I had a feeling.
Let’s get a straightforward home tie in the fifth round and then we can dream.
What a difference a week makes. In Eddie we trust.
Tell me ma!’
David Punton:
‘It’s apt that on Valentine’s Day the romance of the cup is alive and well for United.
That was really a rather brilliant win – and all despite abysmal officiating.
Penalties not given. Villa goal offside.
The players were able to rise above that and make the man advantage count.
Sandro Tonali the hero of the day with his first goals of the season.
The second was an absolute beauty.
Eddie Howe’s threadbare team have managed back to back away wins.
Form and fortunes are on the turn.’
Tony Mallabar:
‘Trelford Mills, you can rest easy tonight.
Knowing your crown of worst official has been handed down to the clown in charge tonight.
Sometimes it feels like I am ploughing a lone furrow in favour of VAR..but tonight it sold itself.
Good to see Sandro ole ole ole filling Bruno’s boots.
Big nick took his goal well, but at times looked a tad anonymous, and hopefully we won’t see the heedless chicken in a black and white shirt again.
Into the 5th round draw and hopefully I will be in between Warsaw and Baku when it’s drawn.’
Mark Jankowski:
‘Newcastle United go marching on in the cup after a dominant display at Villa Park.
My biggest takeaway from the game, however, is the fact that this match served as an advert for why VAR is absolutely necessary in football.
If Newcastle hadn’t advanced to the fifth round today, it would have been an absolute travesty, as on another day with the technology in play, Newcastle would have been 5-0 up against ten men.
Fingers crossed for a more favourable draw in the next round.’
Aston Villa 1 Newcastle 3 – Saturday 14 February 2026 5.45pm
Match Stats
Goals:
Newcastle United:
Tonali 63, 76, Woltemade 88
Aston Villa:
Abrham 14, Bizot 45+1 red card
Possession was Newcastle 57% Villa 43%
Total shots were Newcastle 12 Villa 8
Shots on target were Newcastle 3 Villa 2
Corners were Newcastle 6 Villa 6
Touches in the opposition box Newcastle 31 Villa 25
Newcastle team v Aston Villa:
Ramsdale, Trippier (Alex Murphy 90), Thiaw, Burn, Hall, Ramsey (Willock 80), Tonali, Barnes, Jacob Murphy (Elanga 63), Woltemade, Osula (Gordon 63)
Unused Subs:
Pope, Ruddy, Shahar, Neave, Seung-soo