Aston Villa 2-0 Newcastle - hosts move clear of bottom three

More from Newcastle manager Steve Bruce: "We were too passive in the first half, we had opportunities on the counter but should have held onto the ball and should have created a bit more. We surrendered it too quickly in the first half. We had one or two opportunities but were not quite there.

"There was nothing in it until half an hour, with the standards we have set it in the last couple of weeks, we were not there. We have been done by two set-pieces.

"We are up against one of the best team in the world (Manchester City) next and we have to do better than tonight if we want to get anything out of the game, We have to roll our sleeves up and get ready for it."

Newcastle manager Steve Bruce tells Sky Sports: "The first half in particular we did not do enough with or without the ball. Two free-kicks, we felt we were harshly done by but the way Conor Hourihane has executed them made it a difficult night.

"Conor is very good, I have seen it many times and he has the accuracy and power to score. The second one, our defenders have to defend better, too many stood and watched it. The game was gone in two minutes in the Premier League. We had chances before and after half-time when Tom Heaton made some good saves.

"Jamaal Lascelles is your captain and has been playing very well, last week the defenders were excellent so you are always going to miss your best players."

Greg Morter: Might have only ended 2-0 win for Aston Villa but Newcastle failed to offer anything significant throughout.

Aston Villa manager Dean Smith speaking to Sky Sports: "This is a really tough league and we have just gone through a period of playing Manchester City and Liverpool, which were games I thought we actually played well in.

"The table is so tight but you need to put a run together, be tough to beat and keep a clean sheet. I'm really pleased with the clean sheet tonight as we haven't had too many of those this season.

"Our form has been good but we knew it would be hard, but I think we've been competitive. It takes time gel defensively but I think we achieved that against Newcastle."

On goalscorer Conor Hourihane: "I explained to Conor why I left him out against Man City. He has scored goals in every league he’s played and I always had him earmarked to come back in tonight and he showed us what he was about."

Since the start of last season, Conor Hourihane has been involved in more league goals for Aston Villa than any other player currently at the club (9 goals, 13 assists).

Newcastle's Miguel Almiron has had more shots without scoring than any other player in the Premier League this season (22). The Paraguayan is still yet to score his first goal (41 shots) or register his first assist (22 chances created) in the competition.

Aston Villa goalscorer Conor Hourihane, speaking to Sky Sports: "It is a massive win for us, we have come off the back of a few defeats and we needed to get that win tonight.

"The squad doesn't have much Premier League experience so we all have a point to prove. We have the added pressure of the size of the club.

"It was important to get a good result because they haven't been great in the past few games.

"We've got tough games coming up against Manchester United, Chelsea and Leicester, so it's great to go into those with some added confidence."

Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish on Sky Sports: "We all know the quality that Conor Hourihane has form set-pieces and he showed that tonight. In the last minute of the set up for the free-kick, he told me where he wanted it and got an assist.

"We have a lot of pressure on our shoulders, out of the three teams that came up we spent the most. We always knew we had a bit of pressure on us but I am sure with the players we have we can do that (stay up).

"I like playing as a number eight, I feel more involved but it is a team game and will play wherever the manager asks. When I am on the left, I want to play more like the Liverpool front three."

It was important Aston Villa stepped up and played with confidence tonight after three defeats. I think Newcastle helped them immensely by the fact they were so passive. Villa did have to weather a little bit of a Newcastle storm at the start of the second half but it was a big performance and they're back on track.

Paul Carney: So Gareth Southgate - Jack Grealish still not good enough for you?

Andy Mac: It was said by Villa fans that Dean Smith always got the better of Brucie while he was Villa boss. Sadly he's no Rafa, we'll just have to hope there are 3 worse teams.

I think Steve Bruce will feel humiliated tonight. He would have been quite entitled to chuck cabbages at his own team at half-time.

Villa really deserved their victory tonight. They needed the three points, they got the three points and Dean Smith got his performance.

Villa boss Dean Smith shaking hands and patting the backs of each player that comes off the pitch.

The last one to get a warm embrace?

Jack Grealish.

The skipper has made a young lad's day by taking his shirt off and handing it over to someone in the stands.

Chris Sutton on comms says Steve Bruce would have been entitled to "chuck cabbages at his own players" at half time.

LOOOOOL!

Aston Villa end a run of three straight defeats to move up to 15th in the table and four points clear of the drop zone.

Everton and West Ham each fall a place.

One more chance as John McGinn takes the ball down and curls inches wide.

A last chance for Villa.

Jack Grealish, obv, holds the ball up and plays it left to John McGinn.

The Scot looks up but side-foots a shot wide of the far post.

Jack Grealish gets a pass away but is trod on by Newcastle full-back Jetro Willems.

Looked accidental, no further action.

A change for Villa in injury-time.

The excellent Conor Hourihane comes off and on comes Henri Lansbury.

This will be such a big three points for Dean Smith and Aston Villa. The manager will be really pleased with the composure of his side tonight. Jack Grealish has been a key figure and the best player on the pitch.