Birmingham World reporter Charlie Haffenden reacts to Aston Villa's 4-1 win over Newcastle United in the Premier League, courtesy of goals from Ollie Watkins, Ian Maatsen and Amadou Onana.
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00:00Aston Villa are now within goal difference of the top five and just two points outside the top three following today's thumping 4-1 victory over fellow Champions League contenders Newcastle United.
00:13What an incredible performance here at Villa Park, backing up the performance midweek against Paris Saint-Germain.
00:18Villa were knocked out the Champions League on aggregate 5-4, but a 3-2 win over the Parisians gave them so much confidence coming into today's such an important game against Newcastle.
00:28The Magpies really could have been out of reach if, hey, they had won this game, but Unai Emery's men putting in one of the performances of the season to go and run riot, especially in that second half.
00:39Oli Watkins gave Villa the perfect start as he scored within just 33 seconds.
00:44He pressed really well down near the corner flag, forced Newcastle into a poor clearance.
00:49Uri Tielemans picked up the ball, gave the ball back to Watkins.
00:51He cut in and it was a big deflection of Fabian Scher, but a decent effort nonetheless that went past Nick Pope for 1-0.
00:59Fortunately, Fabian Scher did make it 1-1 in that first half, heading in through the legs of Emiliano Martinez, who perhaps should have done better to keep his effort out.
01:09But I don't think Fabian Scher should have been on the pitch for that moment, to be honest with you, because just a few minutes earlier, he took down Oli Watkins as the last man.
01:17The ball being played over the top, I think, by Uri Tielemans, a great little chip through ball.
01:22Watkins was sprinting through, he was probably going to get there, but the referee, Jared Gillick, gave just a yellow card for Scher,
01:29who then, of course, went on to go and score that equalising goal.
01:32Obviously, the full-time result, it didn't make a difference in the end, but a red card, perhaps, would have made things a bit more comfortable for Aston Villa.
01:39I think the saving grace for Scher was the fact his goalkeeper, Nick Pope, came off his line quickly enough and potentially would have got there ahead of Watkins.
01:46But it's contentious, it really is. I think if Gillick gives a red card, it's not going to be overturned by VAR,
01:53but likewise, because he gives a yellow, that's not going to be overturned either.
01:56So, just one of those, really, and thankfully, it didn't hinge on the result too much.
02:01In the second half, Aston Villa, absolutely fantastic after the break.
02:06Ian Mattson, who was in for a start ahead of Luca Dean for the third Premier League game in a row,
02:11sprinting down that left-hand side, absolutely busting a gut to get into the penalty area.
02:15And Watkins, of course, scoring the opening goal, assisting the second as he passed to Mattson and he fired in past Nick Pope.
02:21Pope had a fantastic game, you've got to say.
02:24Made so many important saves to keep Newcastle in it, but he wasn't able to stop it as Mattson got in and fired into that far corner.
02:31Then the third goal for Villa, after a couple of substitutions from Unai Emery,
02:35Jacob Ramsey and Amadou Onana came onto the fields.
02:38John McGinn was taken off, as well as Marco Asensio.
02:40So, a bit of a surprise to see McGinn come off because he played so well, but I think he was a bit leggy.
02:45Maybe the game against Man City next week was in mind as well, as well as the FA Cup semi-final Wembley.
02:51But Emery was proved right as Jacob Ramsey was involved, running down that left, crossing in low,
02:56and he went into the net via Dan Byrne to heel.
02:58Quite an awkward one for Byrne to make it 3-1.
03:00And then, just as you could catch your breath, Villa made it 4-1.
03:04Amadou Onana, absolutely thumping the ball into the top left-hand corner.
03:08Roger's just seen a shot saved at point-blank range by Pope.
03:12Recycled possession, got it out to the edge of the area where Onana was waiting to thump the ball home into the top left-hand corner.
03:19Should mention as well, Ollie Watkins hit the bar in the first half.
03:23He hit the post.
03:24Jacob Ramsey went on to hit the post as well.
03:26So, three woodwork hits.
03:27If it wasn't for those, Villa could have won 7-1 today.
03:30Of course, not the case.
03:32They win 4-1.
03:33They'll absolutely take that.
03:34Within goal difference, Nottingham Forest, as I mentioned, for the top five, which will be enough for Champions League football.
03:39And now two points behind today's opponents, Newcastle, who are in third.
03:43What an incredible result.
03:45Villa will take confidence from this to go to the Etihad on Tuesday.
03:48And then, they face Crystal Palace at Wembley in the FA Cup semi-finals.