Goals by Hatem Ben Arfa and Yoan Gouffran – each side
of a reply by Christian Benteke - sent the Toon Army home happy and left Paul Lambert’s
team hovering in the lower regions of the Premier League.
It was a case of de já vu for Villa as the demons of
their poor home form of last season came back to haunt them. A Newcastle team unchanged during the summer transfer
window, dominated on a bright and sunny autumnal afternoon and assumed control
of the match from the very first whistle.
The home team barely touched the ball and Newcastle’s dominance was
rewarded in the 18th minute as Loic Remy went clear on the left. His cross came
off Villa captain Ron Vlaar’s outstretched leg straight into the path of Ben
Arfa who had the simple task of firing in from six yards.
Alan Pardew’s side were in complete control of the
first half but Villa came out fighting at the start of the second and created a
few good chances. However, it was a tactical substitution which led to the
Villa equaliser. In the 67th minute Lambert sent on Libor Kozak for Karim El
Ahmadi and the change confused the Newcastle
defenders who failed to deal with the power of Benteke who soared above
everyone to head the ball into the net from an Ashley Westwood corner.
The equaliser lifted the home fans and unsettled the
visitors and it was a case of wondering who would go on to score a winner. Step
forward man-of-the-match Ben Arfa who, on 73 minutes, picked the ball up on the
right hand side of the area, cut inside Antonio Luna and fired a powerful shot
which Villa goalkeeper Brad Guzan could only parry to his right and into the
path of Gouffran who coolly fired into the empty net.
Such was Newcastle’s
dominance that Gouffran, Papiss Cisse and Ben Arfa should have added more as
the Villa team tired.
Newcastle thoroughly earned their victory and showed
a much more mature side than on previous occasions whilst sparing the blushes
of Director of football Joe Kinnear, the man partly responsible for their lack
of activity in the recent summer transfer window.
With Moussa Sissoko playing a vital role in anchoring
the midfield and Remy, Gouffran, Yohan Cabaye and Ben Arfa always looking
dangerous, the Toon army were well worth their second win of the campaign.
Manager Alan Pardew
described the Frenchman as "unplayable" and said he was very pleased
with his team's performance.
Paul Lambert acknowledged it was a "frustrating"
afternoon and said his team started the game too slowly and played
catch up for the rest of the match
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