IT has been a very merry Christmas for Newcastle United. If the league wins over Leicester City and Ipswich Town that preceded the festive break hinted at a black-and-white revival, with progress to the Carabao Cup further fuelling the feelgood factor, a Boxing Day win over Aston Villa provided further evidence of the Magpies’ welcome resurgence.

True, the first-half dismissal of Jhon Duran was a major factor in Newcastle’s comfortable victory over a Villa side that are likely to be one of their key rivals in the battle for European football in the second half of the season, with the Colombian receiving a straight red card for a stamp on Fabian Schar as the centre-half slid in to tackle him.

Eddie Howe’s side were already a goal to the good at that stage though, scoring in the first two minutes for the second match in a row courtesy of Anthony Gordon’s excellent curled finish, and they clinically put the game to bed in the second half courtesy of Alexander Isak’s close-range finish and a stoppage-time strike from Joelinton.

Both Isak and Jacob Murphy were excellent again, maintaining the standards they set at Portman Road last weekend, while the win once again highlighted the wisdom of Howe’s midfield tweak that has prompted significant improvement from both Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes.

Tonali, stationed as Newcastle’s ‘number six’, ran the game, breaking up Villa’s attacking moves and sparking a series of home attacks, such as the one that eventually resulted in Gordon scoring. Guimaraes, who had a late effort of his own ruled out for handball, was equally as effective, scurrying here, there and everywhere as Villa’s numerical disadvantage eventually led to gaping gaps appearing in midfield.

Having lacked rhythm for much of the season, this is a Newcastle side that has clicked back into top gear in the last month or so, with Howe’s tactical tinkering having sparked the improvement. Fifth in the table, sitting above yesterday’s opponents and Manchester City, Newcastle are ideally placed to really attack 2025.

It helps, of course, when they are bursting out of the traps. Last week, they were scoring in the first minute as they blew away Ipswich. Five days later, and it was the second minute showing on the clock as they made another blistering start.

Tonali was the architect of the early opener, snapping away to win possession off Villa midfielder Boubacar Kamara close to the centre-circle. Guimaraes helped the ball on to Joelinton, who in turn released Gordon down the left.

It wasn’t hard to guess what the winger was going to do, but Matty Cash was unable to do anything to stop it, with Gordon checking infield onto his favoured right foot before bending a sensational finish around Emiliano Martinez and into the far corner. It was only Gordon’s second goal since September, and maintained a marked upturn in the England international’s form that has been gradually gathering momentum in recent weeks.

The goal gave Newcastle an early cushion for the second game running, with Joelinton almost adding to it midway through the first half when he glanced a header from Gordon’s left-wing cross straight at Martinez.

Not, however, that the Magpies had things their own way in the opening half-hour or so. Villa’s form has been mixed this season as they have attempted to juggle domestic demands with the challenge of competing in the Champions League – a balancing act Newcastle know all about – but Unai Emery’s side remain a talented outfit capable of asking searching questions on their day.

Morgan Rogers’ direct running down the left certainly ensured Kieran Trippier had to be on his toes as he returned to the starting line-up for the first time since early October in place of illness victim Tino Livramento, while Martin Dubravka had to display sharp reflexes to claw away John McGinn’s free-kick after the Villa midfielder clipped a shot over the wall.

The game was bubbling away nicely, but it swung decisively in Newcastle’s direction when the key moment arrived shortly after the half-hour mark.

Schar slid in to win the ball from a breaking Duran, with the Colombian’s subsequent follow-through seeing him dismissed. Duran trod on the back of Schar’s leg and planted a boot on the centre-half’s back, and while he could claim it would have been hard for him to avoid making contact with his opponent as he appeared to be slipping, there was still no need for him to stamp on Schar with such a high level of force. Referee Anthony Taylor certainly felt that way, deeming Duran’s actions to amount to violent conduct. The striker was sent off, Villa were down to ten men, and from that point onwards, the game was Newcastle’s to lose.

They still needed the comfort of a second goal, though, and initially at least, their attacking efforts were thwarted by Martinez. The Argentinian World Cup winner saved Tonali’s first-time shot just before the break, and came to his side’s rescue again nine minutes after the interval as he kept out Isak’s shot after the Swede had displayed superb technique to trap Guimaraes’ driven pass.

The wave of black-and-white second-half attacks was incessant though, and Martinez was powerless to prevent Isak claiming his seventh goal in the last six games just before the hour mark.

It was a really well-worked goal, with Guimaraes producing a slide-rule pass to send Jacob Murphy away down the right. The in-form winger slid a low cross across the face of goal, and Isak was left with the simple task of slotting home from close range.

Murphy almost claimed a goal of his own a few minutes later, cracking a shot against the crossbar, but the final word went to Joelinton, with the Brazilian firing home from outside the area in stoppage time.