After Newcastle United’s 3-0 loss at Aston Villa, manager Eddie Howe stated that he was “not really looking for positives,” but rather “for a response.”
On Saturday, OIlie Watkins continued his superb form for Villa as Unai Emery’s team won their fifth straight Premier League game.
Third-placed Newcastle finished second at Villa Park, with Villa leading in shots (15 to eight), attempts on goal (six to two), and expected goals (1.87 to 0.57). Indeed, the hosts hit the crossbar twice and had a goal disallowed.
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Newcastle lost 5-0 to Manchester City in May of last year, snapping a five-game winning streak.
Howe wants a reaction before the next home game against top-four rivals Tottenham.
In an interview with BBC Sport, Howe stated: “We were off our best levels right from the start. Aston Villa are a good team and we never got going.
“We’ve been consistently excellent this season, this is the first dip we’ve had; it can happen and we have to react.
“We were just off it in every respect. We’ve got a massive game next week. I’m not really looking for positives, I’m looking for a response.”
Meanwhile, Villa have won five consecutive Premier League games for the first time since the 1997-98 season.
The victory moved them to 50 points from 31 games, the earliest they have done so since the 2009-10 season, when they finished sixth, a position they will hold for at least another week, just six points off the Champions League places.
Watkins was their main man once more, scoring a second-half double after setting up Jacob Ramsey’s opener. Since the Premier League resumed after the World Cup, the former Brentford striker has been involved in more Premier League goals (15) than any other player.
“We are on a great run at the moment we are playing good football,” Watkins told BT Sport.
“Newcastle are a great side so it shows the levels we are at. We are enjoying it at the moment.
“[We are] trusting team-mates in tight areas and if we make mistakes we go again. Real togetherness in the team and looking forward to games to come.”