Fabian Schar scores rare double as Newcastle win at Aston Villa
Fabian Schar celebrates after scoring his second goal (Jacob King/PA)
Newcastle condemned Aston Villa to their first home defeat in the Premier League for almost a year with a stunning 3-1 win.
Two goals in four first-half minutes from Fabian Schar put the Magpies in control before Alex Moreno’s own goal after the break.
Ollie Watkins grabbed a consolation for the hosts, who lost in the league at Villa Park for the first time since last February.
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They remain fourth but have played more games than leaders Liverpool and rivals Manchester City and will be caught by Tottenham if they beat Brentford on Wednesday.
Newcastle had lost six of their previous seven league games to slip away from the top four but victory lifted them to seventh, although still 11 points behind Villa.
They thrashed Villa 5-1 in the opening game of the season but since August the direction of travel for the two sides has been different.
Only Sheffield United had previously taken a point from Villa Park this season as Emery’s side mount a surprise Champions League charge, while the Magpies had won just once away.
Yet it was the visitors who dominated from the start and they conjured the first serious chance after 20 minutes. Jacob Murphy’s sumptuous ball found Anthony Gordon with Ezri Konsa for company and he managed to wriggle clear, but Emi Martinez raced out to save.
The Magpies were slicker, with Villa uncharacteristically timid, and Clement Lenglet needed to block Sean Longstaff’s effort after Martinez spilled Murphy’s strike.
Fabian Schar, centre,
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