Pundit picks out unsung Aston Villa hero for 'really smart' job in Newcastle thrashing
Latest Aston Villa news from BirminghamLive brings you what is being said about the win over Toon and how one man played a pivotal role
Match of the Day pundit Martin Keown felt Emi Martinez played a crucial role in Aston Villa's victory over Newcastle as they kept their Champions League qualification hopes on track.
Villa thrashed the Magpies 4-1 at Villa Park in one of their best performances of the season to remain in the hunt for a top-five finish.
Ollie Watkins, Ian Maatsen, an own goal from Dan Burn and a strike from Amadou Onana sealed a dominant victory, which followed an equally impressive performance against Paris Saint-Germain in midweek.
But Keown felt that one of the crucial components of the win was Villa's ability to beat Newcastle's press, with the visitors renowned for deploying aggressive man-for-man marking.
And the former Arsenal man said goalkeeper Martinez was crucial in aiding Villa's victory.
"I thought Emery was really smart with his tactics because we know that Newcastle are gonna press really high," he said.
"But the goalkeeper was picking out passes and just bypassing the press. Newcastle have those dogs of war in midfield and they're really tight all over you.
And then, of course, he's trying to play that ball into Watkins onto that side of the pitch to isolate the centre half. Ollie Watkins, I think, is in the form of his of his life, the way that he's playing right now.
"(Villa) just miss out the press and get straight into this Newcastle team, which they're not used to. Villa are in good shape and it was a particularly good reaction after losing out in midweek."
Claret & Blue verdict
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