Aston Villa 1-3 Newcastle: Sandro Tonali double helps Magpies secure spot in the FA Cup fifth round after Marco Bizot saw red
Report as Newcastle beat Aston Villa 3-1 to book their place in the fifth round of the FA Cup; Tammy Abraham's opener was allowed to stand despite being offside; Marco Bizot was sent off and Sandro Tonali's stunning double then gave Newcastle the lead; Nick Woltemade added a third
Saturday 14 February 2026 20:35, UK
A sensational double from Sandro Tonali helped Newcastle come from behind to secure a dramatic 3-1 win against 10-man Aston Villa to book their place in the fifth round of the FA Cup.
Villa had controversially taken the lead when Tammy Abraham's opener was allowed to stand, despite clearly being offside with VAR not in operation, but momentum would quickly shift when a moment of madness from goalkeeper Marco Bizot led to a straight red card.
The goalkeeper raced off his line in an attempt to stop a Newcastle counterattack just before the break and brought Jacob Murphy down with a sliding challenge near the halfway line, leaving referee Chris Kavanagh with little choice while the goal was gaping.
Eddie Howe's side were already feeling aggrieved at the lack of VAR in the game following the opener and Digne avoiding a red card for a dangerous tackle on Murphy, which was then compounded when a handball from the same man was given as a free-kick despite contact arriving inside the area.
The growing frustration was quickly relieved from that set piece, though, as Tonali's first effort of the night deflected into the bottom left corner to draw his side level.
With time and numbers on their side, Newcastle cruised into the lead with just under 15 minutes to go when Tonali struck again with added venom from the same position, before Nick Woltemade marked his 24th birthday with a third to secure a spot in the fifth round for his side.
The Magpies will find out who they face in the next round on Monday when the draw takes place before Macclesfield face Brentford.
Meanwhile, Villa's hopes of ending the 30-year wait for silverware at the club now hinge on the Europa League.
Howe questions 'strange' officiating
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe speaking to BBC Sport:
"It felt like one of those games where any contentious decision was going against us. Of course, it's not intentional from the officials and it is one of those things you have to accept.
"The players did really well to control their emotions and not get into further trouble but it did feel strange. The penalty for a handball, I could see that one from where I was!
"It felt like one of those days where it is not going to happen. The players did really well, it is not as easy as it's made out to be to break down a stubborn defensive unit. We did that really well in the second half."
Trippier: Digne handball was definitely a penalty!
Newcastle defender Kieran Trippier speaking to BBC Sport:
"There's no VAR in the FA Cup, but the penalty incident [with Digne], I'm sure it was a penalty.
"But this is football. You have to react to disappointments and I think we did that. Villa were a threat with ten men, but that third goal was crucial."
