Newcastle 0-1 Aston Villa: Johan Manzambi comes back to haunt Magpies in Premier League win
Report and free match highlights as Johan Manzambi's goal earns win for Aston Villa at Newcastle; midfielder had agreed deal to join Magpies in the summer before late swoop from Villa; Sven Botman escaped red card after a foul on Nicolas Jackson despite VAR review
Saturday 17 October 2026 20:04, UK
Johan Manzambi came back to haunt Newcastle as his first-half goal was enough for Aston Villa to win 1-0 at St James' Park on Saturday Night Football
The midfielder had agreed a deal to join the Magpies in the summer before a late bid saw him move to the Midlands instead, and he has impressed since making his debut.
He scored in the Champions League against Fernerbahce in midweek - on his 21st birthday - and continued his hot streak when he nodded home the only goal of the game in the 36th minute.
"I knew this team was very good. I played against them in the Europa League final last season. I knew it was a very good team with a big coach. I knew that it was perfect for me," Manzambi told Sky Sports after the game.
In conceding, Newcastle set a new club record of 16 successive games in all competitions in which they have failed to keep a clean sheet.
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It came shortly after a controversial moment when Sven Botman should have been sent off. He was initially shown a yellow card for a reckless challenge on Nicolas Jackson, but VAR reviewed it for serious foul play. However, they decided not to upgrade the booking and Botman remained on the pitch.
"If VAR can't see that's a red, we're in trouble," Sky Sports' Jamie Redknapp said at half-time. "It is so dangerous. How he's not broken his leg there... I like to see aggression. I want to see 50/50 tackles, but you can't do that anymore."
After the game, Jackson told Sky Sports: "The referee said it was a yellow card but it was so high. Hopefully next time it is a red card. I nearly broke my leg, but it's fine. It's part of football."
However, Newcastle ultimately ended the first half with no shots on target. There were some better openings in the second half for the Magpies - including a wonderful save from Zion Suzuki to deny Botman - but that proved to be their only shot on target in a game where they lacked the final touch.
Newcastle were loudly booed at both half-time and the final whistle as the team's stuttering start under Matthias Jaissle continued.
Aston Villa were also guilty of not finishing their chances but looked far more like the team Unai Emery wants. The three points sends them level on eight points with Newcastle and just a place behind.
The key moments from St James' Park
9: CHANCE! Jackson is through on goal but his shot goes straight at Lukas Hornicek.
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.
29: CHANCE! Jackson has another chance to score, but his effort comes off Botman's backside.
35: GOAL! Manzambi rises high to nod home Gomes' cross for Villa's opener.
39: OFF THE POST! Emi Buendia almost makes it two for Aston Villa, but hits the post.
49: HUGE SAVE! Botman's thunderous strike is pushed away by Suzuki's fingertips.
73: SAVE! From Hornicek this time as he pushes Ross Barkley's shot away.
Mings: We're slowly grinding towards cohesion
Aston Villa captain Tyrone Mings to Sky Sports: "It was a perfect away Premier League performance. St James' Park is so difficult to come to, but you're see across the board that every game in the league at the moment is so difficult.
"It feels like a big win. I'm super proud of everything we've put into the season so far.
"It feels at times like we've had a lot of changes but the manager is keen to reiterate we have a 'no excuse'. We have enough players here who have experience playing at St James' Park and have experienced the league and we've added some fantastic players. Coming here is always difficult, but I'm super proud to keep a clean sheet.
"It feels like we're slowly grinding towards cohesion, but there's no other way than hard work.
"We've just had quite a long international break where players were away, but some were here and working hard but every day on the training pitch, in meetings, everybody is buying in to what the manager wants, how he wants to play.
"The league is tough, the standard is tough, we're playing in Europe is tough but that's the tough we want. We want to be up there, we want to play European football. This is the challenge we chose and we're super excited for the season."
