Manzambi haunts Newcastle with winner for Aston Villa — SkimNews
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- Johan Manzambi headed home Gomes' cross in the 36th minute to seal Aston Villa's 1-0 win at Newcastle, continuing his hot streak after scoring on his 21st birthday in the Champions League win over Fenerbahce in midweek.
- Aston Villa landed Manzambi on a late summer swoop after the midfielder had agreed a deal to join Newcastle, a storyline given extra bite by his match-winning return to St James' Park.
- Sven Botman escaped a red card after a reckless foul on Nicolas Jackson, with VAR declining to upgrade his yellow; Sky Sports' Jamie Redknapp declared at half-time: "If VAR can't see that's a red, we're in trouble."
- Newcastle set an unwelcome club record of 16 successive games in all competitions without a clean sheet, finishing the match with just one shot on target.
- Newcastle supporters booed the team at half-time and full-time as Matthias Jaissle's stuttering start to the season continued, with the result leaving both clubs level on eight points — Villa just one place behind.
- Aston Villa looked closer to the side Unai Emery wants despite spurning chances, with Emi Buendia hitting the post and Zion Suzuki making a fingertip save to deny Botman's thunderous strike.
Why it matters: Villa's win lifts them level on points with Newcastle and continues a turnaround built around a player Newcastle thought they had signed, while Newcastle's 16-game run without a clean sheet sets a new club low and deepens pressure on manager Matthias Jaissle amid audible fan discontent.
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