PL: Atsu's Newcastle beaten by Aston Villa

Conor Hourihane scored one and made one for Aston Villa in a 2-0 win over Newcastle as the midfielder haunted Steve Bruce, who signed him for Villa.

It was an inspired decision from current Villa boss Dean Smith to start Hourihane as he looked to arrest a run of three straight Premier League games.

The Irishman curled home the opener with a clever free-kick (32) before laying on the second for Anwar El Ghazi (37) via a delicious left-wing set-piece.

Chances came and went at both ends in an entertaining second half but it was Villa that held on for victory and got one over their former boss Bruce, who was returning to Villa Park for the first time since being sacked in 2018.

Player Ratings

Aston Villa: Heaton (7), Guilbert (7), Konsa (7), Mings (7), Targett (7), McGinn (7), Grealish (8), Douglas Luiz (7), Hourihane (8), El Ghazi (7), Wesley (6)

Subs: Lansbury (N/A)

Newcastle: Dubravka (6), Yedlin (6), Fernandez (6), Clark (5), Dummett (5), Willems (6), Almiron (4), Hayden (5), Shelvey (6), Saint-Maximin (7), Joelinton (4)

Subs: Carroll (7), Gayle (6), Atsu (N/A)

Man of the match: Jack Grealish