The man Newcastle United chiefs once wanted as manager was left screaming into the mild Tyneside air as his Champions League challengers were humbled at St James' Park.

Unai Emery erupted at the fourth official Leigh Doughty after losing his cool with Jason Tindall in the technical area as United turned on the style. But by the end, Emery's complaints would fall on deaf ears because this had been a hammering by anybody's standards.

Here Villa had no answer to a rampant Newcastle side who left the field disappointed that they hadn't chalked up a few more. It meant that Eddie Howe's side clawed their way back into what could be a Champions League side as the goals flowed on Tyneside like a sparkling festive wine!

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First-half Gallowgate goals were the call from the terraces after Bruno Guimaraes had lost the toss, and Villa opted to turn Newcastle around. And United could not have started in better fashion as they scored with their first attack - they would start with attacking intent and finish with it too.

The Magpies went ahead with an early goal after just 89 seconds after Joelinton slipped the ball to Anthony Gordon on the left. The England international took a couple of touches in the box before curling it past World Cup winner Emiliano Martinez who was beaten all ends up as the ball flew into the top right-hand corner.

However, the architect of the opener was almost certainly Sandro Tonali who neatly won the ball off Boubacar Kamara before slipping Joelinton through midfield who ably assisted Gordon before the Scouser unleashed his howitzer. Both Gordon and Jacob Murphy had chances to double the lead but Argentina international Martinez escaped further early punishment in the early stages.

Villa began to settle down and won a dangerous free-kick when Bruno upended Jhon Duran near the edge of the area. Lucas Digne stepped up from almost 25 yards out but Martin Dubravka made a fantastic save and pushed the ball to his left. Given there has been talk of a deal to Saudi Arabia's Pro League already being tied up for the Slovakia star, Howe's concerns for selling the stopper while Nick Pope remains out with a knee injury seem fully justified.

The rebound fell for Matty Cash at the Leazes End, but he blazed over, and Villa's chance of an equaliser had gone. Returning defender Kieran Trippier went into the book for a foul just after the quarter mark.

Another Newcastle attack saw Joelinton steer a header at goal but Martinez was equal to it. On 29 minutes, Newcastle swung a free-kick with Cash pinning Fabian Schar to the floor as he tried to wriggle free and connect with the delivery.

This handed United a set-play from just outside the penalty area with Trippier keen to make his mark. But after the ex-England man dummied the free-kick, Schar thumped it low at Martinez forcing the Villa keeper into a fine save low down.

The game then exploded as Duran chased a stray ball with Schar before trailing an outstretched boot down the backside of the Swiss defender. A coming together of the two teams then followed before Duran was shown the red card.

As he was escorted off the field, Duran booted a water bottle back onto the field of play with his tantrum then roared by the home crowd. Tempers continued to flare after the dismissal for Duran as Emery clashed with Jason Tindall in the technical area and screamed "two" at the officials in reference to both Howe and his assistant both prowling the touchline.

Newcastle pushed for a second before the interval with Tonali denied by a first class save from Martinez and Joelinton seeing a goal chalked off after Isak's pull back was deemed to have gone out of play.

Joelinton's late yellow card in the first half for a brush with Digne was also a cause for concern in the second half. But Newcastle emerged for the second half a man up and a goal up at St James' Park.

Villa introduced Euro 2024 star Ollie Watkins after the break as he replaced Youri Tielemans. As the second half kicked off it emerged that Tindall had been shown the red card by Anthony Taylor and he initially took a place in the Press box before moving to the stands.

But Tindall and St James' Park were celebrating a second goal just before the hour mark. Bruno rolled the ball down the right-hand side for Murphy before his perfect cross for Isak was swept home by the Sweden international.

Moments later Isak smashed the ball home again but the flag went up for offside and in yet another attack, Joelinton's effort was blocked before Murphy followed up and blasted the ball off the bar! Howe brought on fresh legs when Matt Targett, Harvey Barnes and Joe Willock came on for Trippier, Gordon and Murphy.

Barnes was soon involved in another sweeping attack, yet after Lewis Hall's cross was kept in by the ex-Leicester man, Bruno was adjudged to have used an arm to score after a Villa clearance from Ezri Konsa.

But Newcastle would get their third in stoppage time as Joelinton cashed in on a loose pass from Amadou Onana. The Brazilian then weaved his way through and calmly curled it past the keeper to add some gloss to the scoreline.

Lewis Miley and Will Osula were then introduced at the end of the game with St James' Park now lapping up every pass.

It could and probably should have been more but on a day in which Newcastle managed 22 shots, Emery could have no complaints. As the Newcastle faithful chanted Tindall's name the Toon coach ended the day with the last laugh.

Referee: Anthony Taylor (Manchester)

Attendance: 52,168