Newcastle United to do it again as Aston Villa thoroughly beaten at St James' Park as is tradition

The seasonal festivities continue for Newcastle United after a superb 3-0 home Boxing Day victory against Aston Villa.

Once again, Newcastle were a goal up inside two minutes when Anthony Gordon fired a stunning curling effort into the top corner beyond Emi Martinez after just 86 seconds.

Newcastle never really looked under any pressure from Aston Villa after that, despite a five-minute spell where the visitors controlled possession but weren't able to do anything with it. For the longest time their only effort on target was a Lucas Digne free-kick that was palmed away by Martin Dubravka.

As if Aston Villa weren't already having a difficult enough time of things, referee Anthony Taylor, who was absolutely woeful by the way, but kept giving things Newcastle's way, sent off Jhon Duran for a challenge on Fabian Schar. I've watched all the replays and feel it was very harsh, but the Prime Video commentators were going on like it was some kind of assault so maybe I've missed something. I sure wasn't complaining, though.

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The sending off ruined any chance Aston Villa had

Going down to 10-men completely ended the game as a contest and in truth, Newcastle coasted to victory. Alexander Isak and Joelinton both got on the scoresheet to make it 3-0 at the final whistle, but it could, and indeed should, have been a much higher scoreline.

Isak and Bruno Guimaraes both had goals chalked off. Jacob Murphy, as is always the case, hit the woodwork. Emi Martinez made some top-quality saves and there was some passionate last-ditch defending by the Villa back line all of which kept the scoreline to a respectable 3-0.

There were times that things got a bit heated, particularly in the first half which is likely why Duran's challenge was seen as a red card offence given that tensions were bubbling at that point. Taylor never really had a grip on the game, giving out cards like it was, well, Christmas. Blowing up for fouls at every opportunity and then pulling things back long after the advantage had been made clear. It was a shambles that not only saw him send off Jhon Duran but also Jason Tindall at half time after Mad Dog got a bit too intense with a Villa analyst.

Alexander Isak is on a roll

Alexander Isak had to wait an hour for his fifth goal in as many Premier League games and it was a goal-line tap-in from a Jacob Murphy cross after some lovely passing play in the build-up.

Included in the side again after missing the Ipswich game, Joelinton had a blinding game and seemed to be involved in everything before he turned up in the 91st minute to put the cherry on top of the performance, latching on to a lazy pass out from the back by Andre Onana, striding forward and creating space for himself to bend a shot into the far post, much like Anthony Gordon had in the opening minutes.

Back-to-back away games against Manchester United and Tottenham are up next for the Magpies, but in their current vein of form, they will not be the slightest bit worried.