Aston Villa are out of the FA Cup, and if the Midlands side hope to secure silverware this season, they will need to prevail in the Premier League or lift the Europa League title that Unai Emery loves so dearly.
The late winning run of 2025 looks a long time ago at this point, and though the season is still set up to be a successful one,
Several Villa stars flattered to deceive against the Magpies, but Lucas Digne’s poor performance served to reinforce the idea that the 32-year-old is no longer at the top of his game.
Villa need to sign a Digne upgrade
Digne should have conceded a penalty after the hour mark, his arms aloft as went to defend Kieran Trippier’s whipped delivery. His blushes were spared due to a refereeing error, though Sandro Tonali still scored after the resulting free-kick.
However, that wasn’t the extent of the French left-back’s torrid afternoon. Digne was lucky to escape with a booking after a studs-up challenge on Jacob Murphy before the break; he mistimed his one attempted tackle and he also won just two of four duels.
In the Premier League this season, he has made two direct errors leading to a goal.
A tough one for Emery and co to take, their FA Cup campaign now over. It might give the Spanish tactician food for thought as he weighs up whether Digne warrants a place in Villa’s long-term starting line-up.
|
Aston Villa Player Ratings vs Newcastle |
|
|---|---|
|
Player |
# |
|
(GK) Marco Bizot |
2/10 |
|
(RB) Lamara Bogarde |
5/10 |
|
(CB) Victor Lindelof |
7/10 |
|
(CB) Pau Torres |
6/10 |
|
(LB) Lucas Digne |
4/10 |
|
(CM) Amadou Onana |
7/10 |
|
(CM) Douglas Luiz |
6/10 |
|
(RM) Leon Bailey |
4/10 |
|
(AM) Ross Barkley |
5/10 |
|
(LM) Morgan Rogers |
7/10 |
|
(CF) Tammy Abraham |
8/10 |
However, he’s not the only one. Stand-in goalkeeper Marco Bizot is suspended after his moment of madness, but there’s a far more seasoned star who left plenty to be desired and may now return to the bench.
Emery must drop 4/10 Villa forward
Last season, Leon Bailey failed to replicate his earlier form for Aston Villa, and he was loaned out to AS Roma ahead of the 2025/26 season.
The Jamaica international endured a tough half-season spell in Italy and was recalled to Emery’s squad in January, the boss packaging his frontline in their bid for titles and a return to the Champions League stage.
Against Newcastle, it’s fair to say he struggled to showcase his best qualities, only winning one of six duels – which equates to a woeful 86% failure rate – and failing with each of his three attempted take-ons before being hooked at half-time following Bizot’s red card.
A successful take-on is recorded when a player beats their opponent by directly carrying the ball past them while retaining possession.
Football FanCast decided to give the 28-year-old winger a 4/10 match score due to his inability to match Newcastle’s physicality, also squandering his one good chance to get his name on the scoreboard. Moreover, his failure to dribble the ball forward stifled the hosts in their first-half attacking efforts, even though they were on top.
There was a weight of expectation when Bailey was recalled from his first-half-of-season loan spell. After all, the forward notched 14 goals and 14 assists apiece across the 2023/24 campaign.
It was Bailey’s corner that led to Villa’s late winner against Brighton during their midweek Premier League tie, and he will have a part to play over the coming months.
However, he failed to impress against Newcastle, actually suffering a dismal showing that will have done him few favours in worming back into Emery’s good books.
With that in mind, he must be dropped going forward.
Forget Bizot: Aston Villa star looks finished under Emery after Newcastle
Aston Villa crashed out of the FA Cup at the hands of fellow Premier League side Newcastle United, as Marco Bizot’s red card stole the headlines.