Manzambi header wins it for Villa at Newcastle

Johan Manzambi headed the only goal as Aston Villa won 1-0 at Newcastle United on Saturday night, against the club he turned down in the summer.

The 21-year-old chose a £51m move to Villa over the Magpies, and scored in the 36th minute at St James' Park. He has now scored three goals in four matches since recovering from the knee injury that kept him out at the start of the season.

"Skill and intelligence"

Unai Emery praised the midfielder. "Skills and intelligence, both he has, and his physicality is very important as well to help us defensively and to help us try to keep the duels offensively," he said. "We are very happy. Of course another goal he has scored. Fantastic for him as well."

Manzambi was forced off in the second half, but Emery did not think the problem was serious.

On why Manzambi chose Villa, Emery said: "He joined us because he decided as well to be with us. Of course, we are playing Champions League, we are a team more being consistent." He recalled that Newcastle had signed Jacob Ramsey from Villa two years ago. "I would have liked to keep him with us, but it's football."

"A very important three points"

It was Villa's second Premier League win of the season. "It was a tough match. To play here at Newcastle in their stadium is a very difficult scenario to achieve points," Emery said.

"Tactically and defensively very good. Set pieces defensively very good. In transition, we had very good chances to score, and we scored. Then, when we could have our momentum, dominating with the ball, we stopped them."

Left-back worries

There was more bad news at left-back, where Aaron Wan-Bissaka suffered a hamstring injury. He had been covering after Matteo Ruggeri's hamstring injury against Brentford, but Emery should be boosted by Ian Maatsen's expected return to training next week.

A turning point?

After losing three of their first four league games, Villa have now lost just once in eight matches in all competitions. The win at Newcastle followed the record 6-0 Champions League victory over Fenerbahce on Wednesday.

The squad was heavily reshaped in the summer, with more than half of the side that won the Europa League final in May leaving and ten new players arriving. Results like this one suggest the new group is starting to come together.

Villa return to Champions League action at home to Viking next week, aiming to make it three wins from three in the league phase, before turning their attention back to the Premier League.