Sandro Tonali has brought Newcastle a host of gifts, but perhaps the most notable of them is the rare ability to slow down games which offers Eddie Howe's high-intensity side the kind of invaluable control they have so often lacked in the last few months.
With Tonali once again imperious at the base of midfield as he executed his Andrea Pirlo-esque repertoire of short and long passes, perfect interceptions and superior all-round vision, Newcastle were in front before Aston's Jhon Durán's controversial delivery Villa in the 32nd minute. This was followed by an altercation between 20 men in the tunnel.
By the time the dust settled on that angry melee (Howe's ever-combustible assistant Jason Tindall also received a red card, along with Villa analyst Victor Manus), Newcastle were on course for fifth place.
If Tonali's ability to keep his head proved invaluable, it also helped that long before the final whistle Alexander Isak had scored a seventh goal in five league games, vindicating his coach's pre-match suggestion that qualification for the Champions League is a realistic ambition at St James'. Park after all.
Villa are just a point behind but found themselves ninth at the end of a day that started going badly in the second minute, as Tonali showed precisely why Newcastle's recent improvement in fortunes has coincided with Howe's decision to move him on. from position number 8. to writing number 6.
The Italian midfielder's latest breakthrough intervention involved Tonali stealing possession near the halfway line before Bruno Guimarães and Joelinton combined to play in the excellent Anthony Gordon. As Matty Cash pulled back, the England winger cut inside with his right foot before directing a gloriously curling shot out of reach of Emiliano Martínez as it headed inexorably towards the far top corner.
Emery's already irascible mood was darkened when Durán later received a straight red card for violent conduct, specifically for hitting Fabian Schär on the thigh and back while jumping the prone defender following a sliding tackle by Schär to win the ball. .
Duran seemed furious as he walked away, claiming it was an accident. Although the replays, although slowed down considerably, provided solid arguments for the prosecution, it was difficult to know where else the Colombian could have set foot in real time.
“For me it's not a red card,” Emery said, indicating that Villa would try to appeal a decision endorsed by the VAR.
“It wasn't his intention to do that. The images are not clear. The referee needed to take his time, be smart, he was too fast. I think it was because I thought Jhon had a bad reputation. I think we will appeal; Hopefully it won't be three games suspended.”
Howe did not object. “I was a bit surprised to see a red card, I thought maybe it was a bit harsh,” he said. “But we're not winning because of luck.”
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The Newcastle boss became very diplomatic when asked about Tindall's red card on a day when his assistant exchanged bad-tempered insults with Emery in the first half. “I don't think I should go into details, but 17 or 18 of the people involved were trying to calm things down,” he said.
“No one wants to see it. It's not at all what I want from my players or staff, but sometimes you have to protect each other, defend each other. And when you're as competitive as we want to be, things sometimes boil over. It was all a blur and I'm not sure what Jason is accused of, but if you fired him, you could have fired 10 or 15 people!
Order was restored when a good pass from Guimarães and a low cross from Jacob Murphy preceded Isak sending a first shot past Martínez from close range. It was Isak's 12th goal in 19 appearances this season and the Swede subsequently had another attempt ruled out for offside.
Then, a shot by Murphy hit the crossbar when it would have been easier to score and, after the VAR review, Guimarães had a goal disallowed for handball. No matter: in added time Joelinton fired a deflected shot that proved too good for Martínez and reminded everyone why he used to be a centre-forward.
The trip to Old Trafford on Monday night may tell us more but, given that it was Newcastle's 11th goal and third clean sheet in three league gamesa return to Europe in 2025 appears to be within reach.
As Howe said: “We go to Manchester United with real quality and confidence… and I wouldn't trade Alexander Isak for anyone.”
