U23s: Newcastle United 1-2 Aston Villa

Ten-man Aston Villa wrapped up their Premier League 2 campaign with an impressive 2-1 victory against Newcastle United at Whitley Park.

Brad Young’s penalty put the visitors ahead midway through the first half before substitute Brad Burton saw red.

Yet Louie Barry, chasing the Division Two golden boot, bagged his 13^th strike of the season to hand Villa’s Young Lions a commanding advantage at the break.

Tom Allan netted an 88^th-minute spot-kick for the hosts to set up a nervy finale, but Mark Delaney’s battling side signed off for 2020/21 with all three points in the north east.

It ensured they finished the season mid-table on 31 points.

Young continued his impressive goalscoring campaign with the game’s opening goal in the 21^st minute, putting Villa ahead from the spot.

Burton replaced Charlie Farr just before the half-hour mark, but his evening was cut short just 12 minutes later as he was shown a red card.

However, it was Villa who doubled their advantage almost immediately as Barry struck in the 43^rd minute, adding another to his tally this term, to put the visitors in control at the interval.

And that was the way in remained until the closing stages when Allan converted the game’s second penalty, coming after the Magpies striker had also struck late to grab a 1-1 draw in last week’s reverse fixture between the two sides.

But Villa held firm to secure a hard-fought victory and end their Under-23s campaign on a high.