That’s the way to do it.
When you have experienced Champions League disappointment, this is the perfect response to recover and improve your chances for next year.
And also to damage the ambitions of one of your top-five rivals.
Just when Newcastle were beginning to trouble Unai Emery’s energetic team, Ian Maatsen found his moment of redemption.
The Dutchman was responsible when Fabian Schar equalized after Ollie Watkins’ early goal, but just after the hour mark, he completed a superb move that defined the home side.
Villa narrowly missed out on forcing extra time against Paris Saint-Germain in their quarter-final, despite creating numerous opportunities.
However, less than four days later, in front of an enthusiastic home crowd, they took advantage of their dominance and defeated Newcastle decisively.
Substitutes Jacob Ramsey and Amadou Onana ensured the final score reflected Villa’s dominance.
Ramsey’s crucial contribution was forcing Dan Burn to score an own goal, and then Onana powerfully struck home a brilliant fourth goal.
It was a classic one-two punch that settled a thrilling and sometimes physical contest between two teams now considered Premier League forces.
They had competed fiercely in a back-and-forth first half.
But Villa, who also hit the woodwork three times, consistently posed the greater threat.
It was a match where something had to give, with Villa on a four-game winning streak in the league, just one behind Newcastle’s five.
There was also some history between the teams.
The teams nearly had a physical confrontation when they last played at St James Park in December.
Jason Tindall and Villa analyst Victor Manas faced off, leading to a ten-person altercation during the festive period, resulting in both being sent off.
Villa`s report on the game noted that Tindall later reappeared to celebrate Newcastle’s 3-0 victory while wearing a Wham! Last Christmas hoodie.
Given this context, the return match at Villa Park was never going to be a gentle affair.
Though some of the Newcastle team appeared to be caught off guard when Watkins scored within just 33 seconds.
The England star initially pursued Sandro Tonali, whose clearance was weak, and the ball fell to Youri Tielemans.
As the Belgian passed, Tonali was keeping Watkins onside. The striker cut inside, and his shot deflected heavily off Fabian Schar, leaving Nick Pope helpless.
The Newcastle goalkeeper was again helpless moments later when Watkins surged through the defense and struck a shot off the crossbar.
There were already some strong tackles being made, and Villa fans felt Schar should not have been on the field to score the equalizer.
Was the Swiss defender’s cynical foul on Watkins a denial of a clear goalscoring opportunity? Referee Jarred Gillett believed Watkins wouldn`t have reached the ball and only gave Schar a yellow card, with VAR seeing no reason to intervene.
Everyone supporting Villa was quickly further angered by Gillett.
The Australian official decided Boubacar Kamara’s challenge on Tino Livramento warranted a free kick.
It was debatable, but the home team should have defended it better. Instead, their clearance was weak, and when Harvey Barnes delivered a deep cross, Ian Maatsen allowed Schar to get ahead and head the ball past Emi Martinez.
Maatsen almost immediately made amends, but from his excellent cross, Marco Asensio’s finish was poorly timed.
In another scenario, Watkins could have completed his “hat-trick.” But in this reality, he hit the woodwork again, this time with a header from an Asensio free kick.
At the other end, Martinez pushed away a long-range shot from Tonali before Pope saved a Morgan Rogers effort and Tielemans’ corner kick aimed at goal.
Watkins shot wide, then appealed for a penalty but was denied after a challenge from – you guessed it – Schar.
It was engaging, compelling football, and it continued in the same vein.
The excellent Morgan Rogers set up John McGinn, and Pope had to intervene. After Tonali cleared a Tielemans header that was likely going wide, Rogers found space only for Schar to block his shot.
Bruno Guimaraes somehow avoided a yellow card for a late, harsh foul on McGinn.
The Villa captain almost got revenge, but his shot from Kamara’s through ball was straight at Pope.
Alexander Isak was having a quiet game by his usual standards, reflecting his team’s limited attacking intent. His first real shot on goal, after more than half an hour, was easily saved by Martinez.
Then came the move of the match and one of Villa’s most crucial goals of the season.
The ball moved quickly from Martinez to Rogers to Asensio to Watkins, who passed it into Maatsen’s path.
The Dutchman continued his run before striking the ball past Pope.
Maatsen had never scored in the Premier League before, and it will be hard for him to score a better one.
Tindall made substitutions, but it was Emery’s changes that decided the game.
After another good move, Ramsey reached the byline, and Burn could only deflect the ball into his own net trying to stop Tielemans.
