Newcastle 0-1 Aston Villa: Manzambi's header grabs an important 3-point match to Villa

Aston Villa continued their recent revival and stretched their unbeaten run to five games thanks to Johan Manzambi's winning goal to defeat Newcastle United.

Match Report:

Switzerland midfielder Manzambi came close to joining the Magpies in the summer before moving to Villa Park instead, and showed Newcastle what they were missing when he headed in Joao Gomes' cross in the 36th minute.

Emiliano Buendia nearly doubled Villa's advantage but saw his strike bounce off the left post, with Lukas Hornicek well beaten.

Newcastle failed to register a shot on target in the first half, with the home fans booing them off at the break.

But Matthias Jaissle's side made an instant improvement, with Harvey Barnes curling an inviting cross just wide inside the opening 40 seconds of the second half.

Sven Botman, who Villa thought should have been sent off for an over-the-ball challenge on Nicolas Jackson earlier on, hit a well-struck shot on the turn with away goalkeeper Zion Suzuki making a good save.

Villa came fourth in the Premier League last season, but only picked up one point from their opening four league games of 2026-27.

But they have now picked up seven points from their past three games, progressed in the Carabao Cup and recorded a 6-0 thrashing of Fenerbahce in the Champions League.

This victory takes Villa 12th, only behind 11th-placed Newcastle on goals scored.

Match Events:

0' The match is about to start!

9' Nicolas Jackson rushed into the penalty area, the shot was kept by the goalkeeper.

16' Joe Willock shot from a tiny corner, the ball hit the net

18': YELLOWS! Joelinton and Botman are both booked for hefty challenges, with a VAR review for Botman's foul on Jackson.

20': NO RED! VAR do not see a clear and obvious error and Botman does not receive a red card.

25' Yellow Card! Joao Neves from Newcaslte United received a yellow card for dragging the opponent

29': CHANCE! Jackson has another chance to score, but his effort comes off Botman's backside.

30' Jackson shot inside the penalty area, deflected out of the goal line.

36' GOAL! Manzambi scored the header, Villa 1-0 Newcastle

HT Newcastle United 0-1 Aston Villa

53' Nico Gonzalez received a yellow card

55' Wissa received a yellow card

57' Newcastle's Osula, Bazoumana Toure on, Willock, Pardo off

72' Villa's Goretzka, Barkley, Mbaye on, Buendia, Joao Gomes, Manzambi off

77' Villa's Pau Torres on, Wan-Bissaka off

78' Osula got a yellow card for a foul

86' Malick Thiaw received a yellow card for a foul

Line-ups

Newcastle XI: Yoane Wissa, Joelinton, Barnes, Willock, Sven Botman, Malick Thiaw, Nico González, Lukas Hornicek, Lewis Hall, Matias Fernandez-Pardo, Lewis Miley

Subs: Schar, Burn, Pope, J.Murphy, Amar Dedic, William Osula, Bazoumana Touré, Sean Steur, Aladji Bamba

Aston Villa XI: Lindelof, Mings, Buendia, Kamara, Matty Cash, Wan-Bissaka, Zion Suzuki, João Gomes, Nicolas Jackson, Alysson, Johan Manzambi

Subs: Marco Bizot, Barkley, Goretzka, McGinn, P. Torres, Harwood-Bellis, Lamare Bogarde, Mbaye, Brian Madjo