Ollie Watkins Celebrates 'Massive' Aston Villa Triumph at Newcastle
Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins has declared the club's victory over Newcastle United as a "massive" achievement, following a stunning performance that ended a long-standing hoodoo on Tyneside. Watkins, who scored Villa's second goal in the 2-0 win, credited manager Unai Emery with devising a gameplan that caught Eddie Howe's side off guard.
Ending a 17-Match Winless Streak
The result marked Aston Villa's first win at Newcastle United since 2005, breaking a 17-match winless streak that had seen the club suffer heavy defeats in recent seasons. In their previous four visits to St. James' Park, Villa had lost by an aggregate score of 13-1, with Emery describing those outcomes as "horrible." This victory, therefore, represents a significant turnaround for the Midlands club.
Watkins Praises Emery's Tactical Masterclass
Speaking to Sky Sports after the match, Watkins highlighted how Emery's strategy proved decisive. "It is a really difficult place to come and the momentum they get from their fans," he said. "I think we got the gameplan spot on today. We didn't play in front of them, we just played in behind and I don't think they were prepared for that."
Watkins added that the performance was particularly satisfying given his own past struggles at the venue. "I've had some shocking performances here so it was nice to break the duck and perform individually and as a team," he admitted.
A Crucial Bounce-Back Victory
The win comes as a vital response to Villa's recent setback against Everton, providing a morale boost and three valuable points on the road. Watkins emphasised the importance of the result, stating, "It is massive for us and it is a nice feeling. We had a bad result against Everton, so to bounce back and get three points on the road against Newcastle, it's big, so we're really happy."
Emi Buendia had opened the scoring with a spectacular first-half strike, setting the stage for Watkins' late goal to seal the victory. Watkins reflected on the overall display, suggesting Villa could have won by a larger margin. "I feel like it was a strong performance from us and I think we could have won the game by a lot more," he concluded.
