The man Newcastle United chiefs once wanted as manager was left screaming into the mild Tyneside air as his Champions League challengers were humbled at St James' Park. Unai Emery erupted at the fourth official Leigh Doughty after losing his cool with Jason Tindall in the technical area as United turned on the style. But by the end, Emery's complaints would fall on deaf ears because this had been a hammering by anybody's standards.
Here Villa had no answer to a rampant Newcastle side who left the field disappointed that they hadn't chalked up a few more. It meant that Eddie Howe's side clawed their way back into what could be a Champions League side as the goals flowed on Tyneside like a sparkling festive wine! First-half Gallowgate goals were the call from the terraces after Bruno Guimaraes had lost the toss, and Villa opted to turn Newcastle around. And United could not have started in better fashion as they scored with their first attack - they would start with attacking intent and finish with it too.
The Magpies went ahead with an early goal on just 89 seconds after Joelinton slipped the ball to Anthony Gordon on the left. The England international took a couple of touches in the box before curling it past World Cup winner Emiliano Martinez who was beaten all ends up as the ball flew into the top right-hand corner. However, the architect of the opener was almost certainly Sandro Tonali who neatly won the ball off Boubacar Kamara before slipping Joelinton through midfield .
