Aston Villa 3-0 Newcastle United

Aston Villa put in a scintillating display to see off Newcastle United 3-0 and record a fifth successive Premier League victory for the first time in 25 years.

Jacob Ramsey drilled home his fourth goal of the season after 11 minutes to register a deserved breakthrough for a dominant Villa side who twice hit the woodwork in the first period.

In-form Ollie Watkins, having seen an effort ruled out by VAR moments earlier, then fired home after the hour to double Villa’s advantage, before adding his 11^th goal in 12 matches in the latter stages.

It was just reward for a magnificent performance from Unai Emery’s side, who were excellent to a man from front to back and roared on throughout by the passionate support of the Villa Park faithful.

Victory, and yet another hard-earned clean sheet, extends the club’s unbeaten run to eight matches, including seven wins, during a stunning sequence which has seen Villa concede just twice.

Leander Dendoncker returned to Villa’s XI, making his first start since early January in place of the injured Leon Bailey, as head coach Emery made one change from last weekend’s 2-0 victory over Nottingham Forest.

There was also a maiden appearance in the first-team matchday 20 for talented 17-year-old forward Travis Patterson.

Villa flew out of the blocks and almost made the perfect start inside the opening minute as Watkins raced clean through and beat Nick Pope only to see his low effort hit the outside of a post.

Emi Martínez tipped over from Alexander Isak before Villa Park erupted in the 11^th minute as Ramsey opened the scoring.

Captain John McGinn’s cross into the penalty area was headed back by a leaping Watkins, who appeared to receive a push in the process, and Ramsey was on hand to drill home from 12 yards out.

Villa were attacking the visitors at every opportunity and Watkins forced a save from the feet of Pope before Ramsey struck the crossbar from seven yards moments later.

The home side were ensuring it was one-way traffic, with Watkins, Emi Buendía and Dendoncker all going close midway through the first half.

And it was Villa, who were largely the dominant force in the first half, who held a deserved lead at the break.

Villa were at it again just minutes into the second period as Watkins was thwarted by Pope, with Jacob Murphy lashing across goal and just wide at the other end.

Martínez made a fingertip save to deny Isak just before the hour mark, while substitute Miguel Almiron fired into the side-netting.

The Villans thought they had doubled their advantage only for Watkins’ finish, from Álex Moreno’s throughball, to be ruled out by VAR.

Captain McGinn curled a 20-yard effort narrowly over before Watkins did finally get his goal in the 64^th minute.

A swift break resulted in McGinn laying the ball off for Moreno, who sent a low ball across the six-yard box for Watkins and he turned Dan Burn before firing home into the bottom corner.

Tyrone Mings put in a brilliant block to deny Almiron before Villa added a third in the 83^rd minute.

McGinn was again at the heart of the move as he fed Buendía, he found Watkins and the Villa striker slammed into the net via a minor deflection to wrongfoot Pope.

It put the gloss on a marvellous display as Villa sealed a fourth consecutive home win without conceding a goal.