Newcastle dismantle Aston Villa as red card ‘killed game’ | OneFootball

Aston Villa defender Ezri Konsa admitted that Jhon Duran’s red card was too big a hurdle to overcome as Newcastle United ran out 3-0 winners at St James’ Park on Boxing Day.

Anthony Gordon opened the scoring just a minute after the game kicked off with a superb strike for his fourth Premier League goal of the season thus far.

The visitor’s task was made all the greater when Duran was sent off after half an hour, although it took until the 59th minute for the Magpies to take advantage of the extra man.

Alexander Isak became the sixth Newcastle player to score in five or more consecutive Premier League appearances when he found the target, before Joelinton grabbed an insurance goal in stoppage time.

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“We conceded early and that’s demoralising,” Konsa said after the final whistle. “And then the red card happens and that’s tough. At times we defended well as a team but when you are defending for most of the game chances will come. We have to learn from this.”

Duran has been in terrific form for Villa this season, but received his marching orders following a rash challenge. The Colombian proceeded to kick a water bottle in anger on the touchline before heading to the dressing room.

“From where I was it looked like Jhon Duran couldn’t move but we can’t change it now,” Konsa said. “It killed the game, especially as he’s been in good form. We have to move on.”

Former Newcastle striker Alan Shearer called the decision to brandish a red card to Duran “slightly harsh”.

“When you’re travelling at that much speed how can you be certain that he’s got nowhere else to put his foot,” he told BBC Radio 5 Live. “Once the referee has given the red there was no way they were going to overturn it.”

The result sees Newcastle and Villa swap places in the table, with the former moving up to fifth while the latter has dropped down to ninth.

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