Manzambi Header Gives Aston Villa 1-0 Win at Newcastle Against His Former Transfer Target

Aston Villa beat Newcastle United 1-0 at St James' Park on Saturday, October 17, in the Premier League. Johan Manzambi scored the only goal, a first-half header, against the club he had looked set to join in the summer. The win lifts Villa to 12th in the table.

The first half was an end-to-end contest, and it was a feisty one. Villa had two yellow cards shown within minutes of each other, to João Gomes and Alysson. Nicolas Jackson was involved in the chances, and Manzambi played him through at one stage, but Jackson's effort was deflected behind. Another curler from Jackson flicked off Sven Botman and faded wide. Yoane Wissa also flicked an attempt over the crossbar for Newcastle.

Villa broke the deadlock in the 36th minute. Gomes moved towards the edge of the box and curled in a cross. Manzambi rose high to head it past Newcastle goalkeeper Hornicek, even though the keeper got a fingertip to the ball. It was Manzambi's second Premier League goal this season. The 21-year-old Swiss midfielder had agreed a deal to join Newcastle from Freiburg in July, but Villa made a late move and signed him instead. He scored on his Champions League debut in midweek, a 6-0 win over Fenerbahçe on his 21st birthday.

Newcastle pushed for an equaliser in the second half, with chances for Botman and Wissa. Wissa planted his final attempt wide of the right post, and Victor Lindelöf threw himself in front of the ball during a late scramble in the Villa area. Newcastle could not find the goal they needed.

There was also a key VAR moment. Botman escaped a red card after a foul on Jackson, despite a VAR review.

It was a second Premier League defeat in a row for Newcastle, who were booed off by their own supporters. They are coached by Matthias Jaissle. Villa head coach Unai Emery's side are 12th in the table after the win. They arrived at St James' Park after the club's record 6-0 win over Fenerbahçe in the Champions League on Wednesday.