Aston Villa 1 Newcastle 3 – Saturday 14 February 2026 5.45pm
Where do you start?
A match where EVERYTHING went against Newcastle United and yet Eddie Howe and his team won!!!
It was horrendous to watch the opening 62 minutes.
The match officials and the absence of the use of VAR conspiring to leave an incredible extreme feeling of injustice.
The Tammy Abraham ‘goal’ was clearly offside but still stood.
An absolutely shocking studs up reckless assault by Digne on Jacob Murphy, a red card even on the olden days, only getting seeing a yellow card awarded.
Than a hands in the air blocking a cross by the Villa defender, who was standing yards inside the box, seeing only a free-kick awarded OUTSIDE the penalty area.
You try not to think the world is against you BUT with VAR in operation it would have been goal disallowed, Villa player sent off and penalty awarded.
Even though a Premier League stadium with all VAR options available, instead the daft competition rules meaning VAR not used in this game.
The fact it followed so quickly on from that forehead alleged offside that prevented Willock’s ‘goal’ on Tuesday at Spurs, making it beyond belief.
Thankfully, justice done in the end.
Tonali with two excellent goals and then Big Nick finishing them off.
Bizot had been sent off at the end of the first half, even the useless officials and absence of VAR couldn’t miss that horrendous assault on Jacob Murphy (again!).
United into the FA Cup fifth round and more than fully deserved.
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