There was no shortage of drama at Villa Park on February 14, 2026, as Newcastle United overcame a deficit—and a handful of contentious refereeing decisions—to defeat Aston Villa 3-1 in a pulsating FA Cup fourth round tie. With 42,101 fans packed into the Birmingham stadium, the match delivered everything from early goals and red cards to debates over the absence of VAR, leaving both sets of supporters with plenty to discuss long after the final whistle.
The evening started brightly for the home side. Aston Villa, under the floodlights and spurred on by a raucous crowd, drew first blood in the 14th minute. Tammy Abraham, making his mark since joining Villa in January, latched onto a clever chip from Morgan Rogers and coolly finished past Newcastle’s Aaron Ramsdale. The goal, though, was shrouded in controversy. Replays suggested Abraham was marginally offside, but with no VAR in play at this stage of the FA Cup, the flag stayed down and the score stood. As one report noted, “Tammy Abraham scored an offside goal for Aston Villa that was allowed to stand.”
Newcastle’s frustration only grew moments later. Lucas Digne’s studs-up challenge on Jacob Murphy left the Magpies’ winger with a bloodied shin, but the Villa defender received only a yellow card. The away fans were incensed, feeling a red card was deserved. “Lucas Digne committed a studs-up challenge on Jacob Murphy that drew only a yellow card despite causing injury.” The incident set the tone for a match that would be shaped as much by the referee’s decisions as by the players’ efforts.
Villa looked to capitalize on their early momentum, with Leon Bailey and Ross Barkley testing Ramsdale and the Newcastle defense. The Magpies, missing influential captain Bruno Guimaraes through injury, struggled to get a foothold in the first half. Harvey Barnes and Nick Woltemade saw efforts blocked or sail wide, while Sandro Tonali and Jacob Ramsey worked tirelessly in midfield to stem the Villa attacks.
The match took a dramatic turn just before halftime. Newcastle launched a quick counterattack, and Villa’s backup goalkeeper Marco Bizot—starting in place of Emiliano Martínez—charged out of his area to challenge Jacob Murphy. Bizot’s sliding tackle caught Murphy, and referee Chris Kavanagh wasted no time brandishing a red card. “Backup goalkeeper Marco Bizot came 30 yards out of his box in a bid to break up a Newcastle counterattack and his slide got enough of Murphy to see a red card decisively pulled by Chris Kavanaugh.” With Villa down to ten men, Martínez was brought on in goal, and Bailey made way to accommodate the change.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, Villa entered halftime with a slender 1-0 lead. The second half, however, belonged to Newcastle and the irrepressible Sandro Tonali. The Italian midfielder, thriving in the absence of Guimaraes, pulled Newcastle level in the 63rd minute with a fierce right-footed drive from outside the box. The goal, coming after a partially cleared set piece, was described as a “deflected strike” that “beat Martínez and tied the game.”
Just thirteen minutes later, Tonali struck again. After Dan Burn collected a loose ball outside the area, he squared it to Tonali, who unleashed a rocket through traffic and into the net, sending the Newcastle supporters into raptures. “Sandro Tonali’s rocket strike completed a brace and Newcastle United’s comeback in a 3-1 win over Aston Villa.” The midfielder’s double not only turned the game on its head but also showcased why Newcastle fans have come to rely on his big-game temperament.
Villa, now chasing the game and a man down, introduced Jadon Sancho and Ian Maatsen in hopes of salvaging a result. Ollie Watkins replaced Abraham up front, while Emiliano Buendía came on for Barkley. But Newcastle’s tails were up, and the visitors pressed for a third goal to put the tie to bed.
The defining moment arrived in the 88th minute. Villa, under pressure in their own box, struggled to clear their lines. Joe Willock, just on as a substitute, pounced on a loose ball and nudged it toward goal. Nick Woltemade reacted quickest, snapping a right-footed shot past Martínez to seal the result. “Nick Woltemade scored the third goal for Newcastle with a right-footed shot from the center of the box to the top left corner.” The Magpies’ bench erupted, knowing they had booked their place in the fifth round draw.
Yet, even as Newcastle celebrated, the match’s officiating remained a hot topic. Late in the second half, Lucas Digne was penalized for handball inside the area, but the free kick was awarded just outside the box—a decision that left Newcastle fans fuming. “There was a handball by Lucas Digne inside the penalty area that was not called as a penalty.” The absence of VAR meant several game-changing moments went unchecked, fueling debate about the technology’s role in the competition.
Reflecting on the match, many observers pointed to the string of controversial calls—Abraham’s offside opener, Digne’s challenge, Bizot’s red card, and the handball decision—as evidence of the gray areas in football officiating. One summary captured the mood: “All four calls involved a little bit of grey area, sure, but each of the calls were a flashpoint that could’ve changed the game another way.”
For Newcastle, the win was a much-needed morale boost after a difficult run of form and the loss of Guimaraes to injury. The Magpies, who had managed just two wins in their previous nine matches, showed resilience and composure to turn the tie around on the road. Their reward is a spot in the FA Cup fifth round and renewed hope for the remainder of the season.
As for Villa, questions linger about their ability to balance Premier League and European commitments, especially after winning just one of their last four outings. The absence of VAR, the red card, and the missed opportunities will sting, but manager Unai Emery will look to rally his side for the challenges ahead.
In a match where controversy reigned and the margins were razor-thin, Newcastle United found the answers they needed. The debate over officiating and VAR will rumble on, but for the Magpies and their fans, the only thing that mattered was the final score—and a place in the next round of the FA Cup.