Newcastle Defeats Aston Villa 3-1: Full Game Analysis (Feb 15, 2026)

In an exciting FA Cup fourth-round match on February 15, 2026, Newcastle United triumphed over Aston Villa with a score of 3-1. The game was marred by controversial officiating and the sending off of Villa’s goalkeeper Marco Bizot.

Match Overview

Newcastle’s Sandro Tonali was the star of the match, scoring two critical goals that shifted the momentum. The match highlighted several questionable decisions made by referee Chris Kavanagh, especially in the absence of VAR.

Key Events

• 14th Minute: Aston Villa opened the scoring with Tammy Abraham’s goal, which appeared to be offside.
• 22nd Minute: Newcastle’s Lewis Hall was allegedly fouled by Victor Lindelöf, yet no penalty was awarded.
• 42nd Minute: Lucas Digne’s dangerous tackle on Jacob Murphy went unpunished.
• First-Half Injury Time: Marco Bizot received a red card for a foul on Murphy, leaving Villa with ten men.
• 63rd Minute: Digne was incorrectly deemed to have handled the ball outside the penalty area, leading to confusion.
• Goals: Tonali scored twice, followed by a late goal from Nick Woltemade to seal the victory.

Referee Performance

The performance of referee Chris Kavanagh drew significant criticism. Several key decisions, particularly concerning offside and foul play, were pivotal moments in the match that favored Villa early on. Aston Villa’s manager, Unai Emery, previously criticized VAR for its perceived unfairness but benefitted from its absence during contentious moments in this match.

Summary of Goals

Newcastle’s victory advances them to the next round of the FA Cup. The match showcased their resilience and attacking prowess, particularly after the critical sending off of Bizot that turned the tide in their favor. The officials’ inability to adequately handle key moments will be a point of discussion as teams look to the future rounds.