Aston Villa struck a massive blow in the battle for Champions League qualification, thrashing Newcastle United 4-1 to pull within two points of them in the Premier League table.

The hosts thoroughly deserved their victory at Villa Park, where they led within 33 seconds.

Ollie Watkins' low strike deflected off Fabian Schar to wrong-foot Nick Pope, and the Villa striker could have had a perfect hat-trick before half-time.

However, he twice rattled the woodwork – once with a powerful left-footed shot and again with a bullet header – with those chances coming either side of Schar's headed equaliser. 

Villa continued to carry the greater threat, though, and they pulled clear after Watkins teed up Ian Maatsen for his first Premier League goal after the interval.

Dan Burn then turned Jacob Ramsey's low cross into his own net as Unai Emery's substitutions tilted a one-sided affair further, and Amadou Onana made the points safe with a rasping finish with 15 minutes to play.

With Chelsea not in action until Sunday and Nottingham Forest visiting Tottenham a day later, Villa climbed to sixth in the Premier League table with 57 points.

They are only behind fifth-placed Forest on goal difference, with Newcastle – who were again led by Jason Tindall in Eddie Howe's absence – stay third with 59.

Data debrief: Emery's fortress stands firm

Villa have been in brilliant form in front of their own fans lately, winning six straight home matches in all competitions while scoring at least twice in each of those games.

It is their longest run of home wins while scoring multiple goals on each occasion since January 1990 (11), while they have also won five consecutive league games overall.

They were led by a talismanic performance from Watkins, as he replaced Marcus Rashford at the tip of the Villa attack.

Watkins has now scored 74 Premier League goals for Villa – the joint-most of any player for them in the competition, alongside Gabriel Agbonlahor.

And since the start of last season, Watkins has both scored and assisted in eight Premier League games, with only Mohamed Salah doing so on more occasions (15).

Newcastle, meanwhile, have conceded four or more goals in four different Premier League games this campaign. Only the current bottom three of Ipswich Town (eight), Leicester City and Southampton (five apiece) have done so more often.