Newcastle vs Aston Villa: Player ratings and highlights as Kieran Trippier free-kick seals third straight win

Newcastle 1-0 Aston Villa (Trippier 35′)

Kieran Tripper’s cult status on Tyneside gathers pace after the England defender added to his impressive free-kick showreel to seal another priceless victory for Newcastle.

A matter of weeks after the world’s richest football club looked to be heading for the Championship, three consecutive Premier League wins for the first time since the end of 2018 propelled Eddie Howe’s side four points clear of danger to fuel the growing feel-good factor at St James’ Park.

Trippier’s afternoon was curtailed early in the second-half following a recurrence of a calf injury sustained in the victory over Everton in midweek, but not before the free-scoring full-back had provided his contest-defining moment after the first of two key interventions by VAR.

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In the first instance, rarely can a decision overturned by the video assistant have benefitted a side so much.

With 10 minutes remaining of the first-half, referee Craig Pawson pointed to the penalty spot after Joe Willock went down theatrically under a challenge from Callum Chambers, before replays showed the foul was marginally outside the box.

Newcastle’s initial disappointment was soon replaced with a buzz of excitement as supporters quickly realised that meant a spot of Trippier time.

Having scored a stunning set-piece in victory over Frank Lampard’s side, the January signing from Atletico Madrid repeated the trick, this time with the help of a deflection to wrong-foot goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.

WOW!!

Kieran Trippier puts Newcastle in front! What a free-kick! ????#NEWAVL pic.twitter.com/CrDoAt8rNp

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) February 13, 2022

Newcastle were pushed increasingly onto the back foot after Trippier’s enforced exit, and were indebted to VAR ruling Ollie Watkins marginally offside after heading home from close range when a Philippe Coutinho shot ballooned off Fabian Schar to find the unmarked striker on the hour.

Villa’s momentum was largely halted by a short stoppage in proceedings to allow a supporter in the Gallowgate End to receive medical treatment midway through the second half.

And Newcastle held out comfortably enough to leave their opponents with just one victory in their last five Premier League matches.

Player ratings

Newcastle

• Dubravka 8
• Trippier 8
• Schar 7
• Burn 8
• Manquillo 7
• Willock 7
• Shelvey 7
• Joelinton 7
• Fraser 7
• Wood 4
• Saint-Maximin 5

Subs

• Krafth 8
• Dummett 7
• Guimaraes 6

Aston Villa

• Martinez 6
• Cash 6
• Chambers 6
• Mings 8
• Digne 5
• McGinn 7
• Luiz 6
• Ramsey 6
• Buendia 5
• Watkins 6
• Coutinho 5

Subs

• Chukwuemeka 6
• Bailey 5
• Ings 6

from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/gk3jqaZ