It may have been the first visit of the new era, but Saturday's trip to Villa Park felt like a throwback to days gone by for Newcastle United. In truth, the visitors could have no complaints following Saturday's 3-0 defeat. Even Kieran Trippier admitted that 'they wanted it more than us'.
That was clear before Jacob Ramsey's 11th-minute opener - Newcastle just did not look like their usual selves - and by the time man of the match Ollie Watkins added a second-half double, Eddie Howe's side were facing up to the reality of their heaviest defeat of the campaign. Yet there was no mass exodus at full-time. Quite the opposite, in fact. So many of those 3,200 fans in the away end stayed behind to applaud their side off the field, recognising this was a very rare off-day.
These sorts of losses rarely rear their head nowadays. Newcastle, after all, have only lost four league games this season and this defeat was the first time the black-and-whites were well beaten. That is why the manner of this meek performance came as such a shock, particularly when relentless Newcastle went into this game on the back of five successive wins.
READ MORE: No one safe at Newcastle, brutal Aston Villa 'welcome' and Anthony Gordon's reaction - 5 things
Yes, Villa are the Premier League's form side, but Newcastle made it easy for Unai Emery's team. Newcastle were overwhelmed by the intensity Villa played with from the first minute and the Magpies were uncharacteristically shaky at the back. Going forward, meanwhile, Newcastle were wasteful in possession and the visitors did not ask enough questions of goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez. It said it all that Newcastle ultimately had just two shots on target.
Newcastle simply can't afford a repeat performance in the final eight fixtures of the campaign and Howe made his feelings clear to the players after the game to make sure they are 'not that team again'.
"No one is ever safe at any time because you consistently have to show you deserve to keep the shirt," the Newcastle boss told reporters "That's what the game is about for me in every moment, whether that's training or a game. Certainly, today, I've got a lot to think about."
How Newcastle respond will be telling against Spurs next week - and these players already have the incentive they need. Newcastle have a chance to move six points clear of their top four rivals with a game in hand after Spurs failed to take advantage of the result at Villa Park and suffered a late, late 3-2 defeat against Bournemouth.
However, if Newcastle are to beat a wounded Spurs outfit, they are going to have to make a much better start than they did on Saturday. For the second week running, the sluggish visitors failed to race out of the blocks following a poor opening at Brentford seven days earlier.
There were just 30 seconds on the clock when Jacob Ramsey's ball down the channel sent Watkins clear and the deadly striker held off Sven Botman before coolly firing past Pope. The whole crowd took an intake of breath, in anticipation of the net rippling, only for the ball to cannon back off the post.
It was an early let-off for Newcastle, a wake-up call, and it was soon Alexander Isak's turn to test Martinez with a stinging effort that was pushed over the bar. However, it said it all that was Newcastle's one and only effort of note in the first half. It was very much against the run of play.
Villa, feeding off the energy of their supporters, soon opened the scoring in the 11th minute. John McGinn was allowed to cut inside onto his left foot and the Villa captain picked out the head of Watkins, who was peeling away at the back post. Watkins outjumped Trippier to knock the ball down to the unmarked Ramsey, who lashed the ball past Pope right in front of the Holte End.
The Premier League's meanest defence were rocking and it could have been even worse just a few minutes later. Pope made a fine stop to deny Watkins and Newcastle failed to clear, allowing Alex Moreno to run to the byline and cut the ball back to Ramsey, who rattled the crossbar.
For the second week running, Newcastle were fortunate to only be 1-0 down at the break but, this time, Howe decided against making any changes at half-time as his side regrouped. Yet Pope was soon called upon once again in the early stages of the second half to keep out Watkins' close-range effort with his leg.
Howe duly turned to his bench in the 55th minute, throwing on Callum Wilson and the returning Miguel Almiron, and switched to a 4-2-3-1 - and the shake-up very nearly paid dividends. Joe Willock, who moved out to the left, sent a teasing cross into the box and Isak forced Martinez into a fine stop with his effort from the edge of the area.
The game became stretched and Watkins had a goal disallowed just a couple of minutes later before the striker finally got off the mark midway through the second half. Moreno drilled the ball across the box to Watkins, who had time to take a touch and turn Burn before rifling home through the Newcastle defender's legs.
Villa were not done yet, though, and the dominant hosts went 3-0 up in the 83rd minute. McGinn easily shrugged off former team-mate Matt Targett before squaring the ball to Emi Buendia. The Argentine's cutback was dummied by Ramsey and the ball made its way to the unmarked Watkins, who was not going to miss given the form he is in, to leave Howe with 'a lot to think about'.
READ NEXT
Newcastle training ground 'changing' as Eddie Howe admits it's 'really exciting times for us'
Allan Saint-Maximin hope as Newcastle get further double injury boost before Aston Villa fixture
Newcastle have top four ace Liverpool loved as truth about his exit and new role is revealed
Newcastle lover showed true colours while playing for Sunderland without crowd even knowing
