By admin 
You suspect that one or two Newcastle United fans checked the league table again this morning. In a week when chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan restated his ‘ambition’ for Newcastle United to be ‘number one,’ fans are already enjoying life at the top after a 5-1 victory against Aston Villa at St James’ Park.
They could become used to seeing quality rookie Sandro Tonali, who opened the goal with a beautiful volley on Saturday and seemed at ease in a Newcastle shirt. Tonali in black and white was such an unappealing idea to some in Milan that it was alleged the 23-year-old did not want to join the club. Tonali’s interest in leaving AC Milan was made apparent to Newcastle from the beginning. Tonali’s wild celebrations following his first goal for the club showed that after the usually calm midfielder literally leaped for ecstasy before kissing the Leazes End a few seconds later.
Despite the fact that Moussa Diaby equalized with a first-time strike of his own, Newcastle quickly blew Villa away thanks to a double from Alexander Isak and late goals from substitutes Callum Wilson and Harvey Barnes. It was Newcastle’s biggest opening day win since 2002, and it came against a Villa side that was generally predicted to be the season’s dark horse. In fact, commentator Gary Neville has predicted that Unai Emery’s club will finish ahead of Newcastle in sixth place.
Eddie Howe stated that he was “all for” such forecasts “fueling” his players and fans, and whatever happens this season, Saturday’s performance felt like a timely statement of sorts: Newcastle aren’t just seeking to pick up where they left off last season; the Tonali-inspired Magpies are hellbent on winning the Premier League.
Newcastle looked the fitter team as the game progressed, which does not often happen against an Emery side, and the hosts were boosted by the appearance of substitutes Wilson and Barnes, who scored a goal each late on. When Barnes made it 5-1, cries of “We’re Newcastle, and we’re going to win the league!” gave way to “We’re top of the league!” as the black-and-whites took the lead on goal difference.
As a shell-shocked Emery phrased it, “Newcastle are in a good way and they are feeling strong here at home.” That was a significant understatement.
Yet Eddie Howe won’t be getting carried away – not least with a trip to champions Man City to come next week. The Newcastle boss noted a number of nervy moments at the back, both before and after Moussa Diaby’s first-half equaliser, and Villa defender Matty Cash spurned a glorious opportunity to make it 3-2 in the second half. Howe also felt his side should have scored even more goals and the Newcastle boss had his hands on his head at one point after Wilson had an effort blocked by Martinez when his side were already in command late on. These are the standards at Newcastle now.
“We can improve,” Howe told reporters. “There’s lots of areas from today’s game that I’d say we can do better.”
Those words should worry Newcastle’s rivals and there can be no doubt that the manner of this win will have only further whetted the appetite of the group. Villa, after all, were one of only four teams to defeat Newcastle in the league in the whole of last season and that 3-0 reverse back in April did not flatter Emery’s side.
That is why players and staff spoke about the importance of a fast start, of getting the crowd into the game, and Newcastle were soon in front. There were just six minutes on the clock when Bruno Guimaraes’ powerful shot was parried by Emiliano Martinez out to Anthony Gordon on the left. Gordon played a smart one-two with Joelinton before clipping a first-time cross into the box and there was the sliding Tonali to meet it on the volley at the back post. You suspect not even Tonali dreamed of a debut quite like this on Friday night as he scored just his ninth ever goal in a top-flight league.
However, Newcastle were not ahead for long in what was a breathless, end to end contest and Villa equalised just five minutes later after Newcastle were cut open at the back far too easily. First, Lucas Digne’s cross was not blocked. Then Ollie Watkins was able to head the ball across the box from the near post. Finally, the unmarked Moussa Diaby was not picked up and the former Newcastle target unleashed a debut volley of his own to level.
How would Newcastle react? Quite well as it goes. Roared on by a defiant Gallowgate as they made their way back for the restart, Newcastle were soon back in front and, again, Tonali was involved. Just 16 minutes had been played when a free-kick was played short to Tonali, who took a touch before floating a cross towards the back post in a move straight from the training ground. Sven Botman managed to hook the ball across into the path of Alexander Isak, who finished expertly without a second thought.
Villa, though, did not let their heads drop – even after influential centre-back Tyrone Mings was stretchered off with a serious knee injury – and Watkins fired just wide midway through the first half before Diaby struck the side netting just before the break. The visitors also had the bonus of keeping 11 men on the field after goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez avoided a red card for cynically hauling down Miguel Almiron a long way from his goal.
Newcastle supporters were left incensed with the decision, booing referee Andy Madley as he made his way off the field, but those jeers were soon a distant memory when Gordon sent Isak and Ezri Konsa on a footrace in the 58th minute. At first, Konsa looked to have the situation under control, but the Villa defender did not hold off the persistent Isak for long and the record signing pounced, lifting the ball over Martinez into the corner of the net.
Villa were still in it, and the visitors should have cut the lead in half midway through the second half. Diaby put Watkins in down the left, and the striker took a touch inside to take Botman out of the game before unleashing a rocket that Pope saved, only for Cash to fly over the rebound. It seemed like a huge moment in the game, and Howe quickly resorted to his bench, bringing on Wilson and Barnes in place of Isak and Gordon. It was a double change that quickly paid off.
Tonali increased the tempo and sliced Villa’s high line open to put Barnes in behind, and the winger slipped the ball through to Wilson, who scored impressively. Newcastle had not finished yet.
In stoppage time, another substitute, Jacob Murphy, turned provider to send Barnes clear. The newcomer opened up his body in characteristic fashion before shooting the ball past Martinez into the bottom corner to take his side to the top of the table.