Newcastle 0-1 Aston Villa: Key match numbers

Aston Villa made their one chance count at St. James' Park, leaving Newcastle United without reward despite the hosts generating the greater volume of shots across ninety minutes.

The single goal that separated the sides arrived in the 36th minute — a Villa strike that proved decisive. It was the only time either goalkeeper was beaten, and Newcastle spent the remainder of the match unable to find a way back into the game despite throwing bodies forward and accumulating attempts on goal.

The standout individual number from the afternoon belonged to a Newcastle player. One of the hosts' attackers registered 7 shots across the ninety minutes, a remarkable personal tally that on another day would have been more than sufficient to turn a match. That it yielded nothing is a blunt summary of Newcastle's afternoon. A second Newcastle player added 3 more efforts, meaning the hosts alone contributed double-figure shot counts between their two most active attackers.

Villa were no less active in front of goal at the other end. Their top shooter recorded 4 shots, while a second Villa attacker added 3. Crucially, though, 1 of Villa's efforts — the goal at 36 minutes — landed in the net. Newcastle's combined firepower produced 0.

The disciplinary record told its own story of a fractious contest. Newcastle collected yellow cards at minutes 18, 18, 53, 55, 78, and 86 — six bookings in total spread across both halves, with 2 arriving in the same minute early in the first half and a further 2 in the opening exchanges of the second. Aston Villa were not blameless either, picking up cards at minutes 25 and 28 in a busy opening period that suggested the referee had a difficult afternoon ahead.

The substitution patterns reflected how the match evolved. Villa made their first change at half-time, introducing a player at 46 minutes as the manager looked to protect the lead. Newcastle responded with 2 changes at once at 56 minutes. Villa then made a triple substitution at 72 minutes, adding a fourth change at 77. Newcastle's final alteration came at 90 minutes.

Villa's assist data points to the value of creative contribution beyond the scoreline. One Villa player registered the only assist in the match, setting up the 36th-minute goal that ultimately settled the result. That moment of quality, combined with clinical finishing, was enough.

For Newcastle, the 7-shot performance from one individual and 3 from another underlines the frustration. Generating volume without reward is a familiar problem when a single goal decides a match. Villa defended their lead, saw out the ninety minutes, and left with all 3 points on the strength of 1 goal, 1 assist, and a disciplined second-half defensive effort that Newcastle's firepower could not break down.