Aston Villa secured a 2-0 win over Newcastle United on Saturday (Jan 23).
Aston Villa moved back into the top half of the Premier League thanks to a comfortable 2-0 victory over a lacklustre Newcastle at Villa Park.
Dean Smith, who was serving a one-game touchline ban for clashing with the officials during his side's defeat at Manchester City on Wednesday, would have been delighted with what he saw from the stands as his side eased into a two-goal lead in the first half.
Ollie Watkins (13) ended a run of nine games without a goal to head past Karl Darlow before Bertrand Traore's superb finish extended the hosts advantage (42).
The visitors did welcome back Allan Saint-Maximin in the second half after more than two months on the sidelines with coronavirus, but a fightback never materialised as Villa eased to all three points.
Villa are now up to eighth and find themselves five points behind fourth-placed Liverpool with two games still in hand.
Meanwhile, defeat ramps up the pressure on Newcastle boss Steve Bruce, whose side are seven points above the relegation places and without a win in 10 games in all competitions.