Newcastle made it four wins on the spin in all competitions as they won 3-0 against Aston Villa, who had Jhon Duran sent off in the first half.
Anthony Gordon took just 90 seconds to send Newcastle on their way with a beautiful curling strike. Villa’s task was already tough enough after that but was made even more difficult by Duran’s dismissal after a clash with Fabian Schar.
The Villa striker was deemed to have deliberately left some studs on the leg and back of Schar after the Newcastle man had gone to ground.
An angry Unai Emery fumed with the decision and confirmed the club will be appealing the three-game ban.
“Three matches for this red card is hard to accept,” Emery said.
“It’s clearly for his reputation. He was saying ‘sorry, sorry’ so quick with the player. There was no action with the intention to kick him.
“We are working a lot with him to teach him. He is going the way we decide for him but the referees have to be fair, taking decisions with time.”
The decision came much to Villa head coach Emery’s disgust and tempers rose in the dugout where Newcastle assistant manager Jason Tindall along with an Aston Villa analyst were also sent off.
Jhon Duran fouls Fabian Schar, a challenge for which he received a red card
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Mike Dean gives his thoughts on Duran’s red card against Newcastle
Former Premier League referee Mike Dean said on Soccer Special: “Only Duran will know if he could have got out of the way.
“The foot does go on the back of the defender and that has what has tipped the referee towards a red card.”
Newcastle played with great intelligence and coolness in the second half with the extra man and goals from Isak, his seventh in five games, and Joelinton rubberstamped an easy victory.
It might have been more on a day when the Magpies saw three further goals ruled out, as goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez was in fine form, but he could not prevent the visitors from extending their miserable run without a win on Tyneside to 17 games.
Emery: It’s not a clear red, why wasn’t VAR used?
Aston Villa boss Emery speaking in his press conference:
“It’s not a clear red card, it’s a big punishment for the player. He had no intention to do it. I could accept it if the referee was watching with VAR to punish with a red card but we have to use it. The referee can take time to make the correct decision. The referees have to be intelligent. He might be thinking ‘it’s a clear red card’ but he should have gone to VAR to confirm it. The punishment is so high if it’s not clear. I’ve always agreed with VAR but use it please.”
Analysis: Howe has answered the call
Sky Sports’ Oliver Yew:
Things can change quickly in football!
A few weeks ago, the pressure was seemingly building on Eddie Howe at Newcastle. They went four games without a win and a 4-2 defeat at Brentford left Howe with plenty of questions to answer.
However, fast forward a few weeks and after four straight wins things are looking so much better.
There’s a Carabao Cup semi-final to look forward to and Howe’s men are up to fifth. The momentum is well and truly building for Newcastle.
