Alexander Isak extended his impressive goalscoring form to seal a comfortable victory for Newcastle over Aston Villa, who played for an hour with 10 men.
The hosts, hoping to move into the European spots, got off to a perfect start when Joelinton burst through the middle of the park and set up Anthony Gordon. The English winger calmly curled a shot into the top corner from the left side of the box, sending St James’s Park into raptures within the first minute.
In a lively opening half-hour, both teams created chances, with Villa’s Lucas Digne forcing Martin Dubravka into a sharp save with a powerful free-kick.
Moments later, Newcastle’s Fabian Schar tested Villa keeper Emiliano Martinez with a low set-piece under the wall after Matty Cash tangled with Schar just outside the area.
Jhon Duran then produced a moment of controversy, seemingly stamping on Schar’s head during a follow-through, leading to his dismissal.
Villa struggled to hang on until the break, with Martinez pulling off a top-class save to deny Sandro Tonali, who was found at the penalty spot.
Newcastle came out for the second half determined to secure three points, but their coach, Jason Tindall, was sent off along with a Villa analyst during the break.
They got the job done just before the hour mark, as Isak netted his 11th goal of the season after receiving a low cross from Jacob Murphy on the right edge of the penalty area.
The pair almost combined for a second moments later, but Isak was ruled offside after a Villa mistake.
The Magpies were denied by the woodwork when Murphy hit the bar, failing to find the net when it seemed easier to score.
It stayed 2-0 despite Ezri Konsa’s comical ball striking Bruno Guimaraes, which bounced into the net, but VAR ruled the Brazilian had handled the ball.
In injury time, Amadou Onana gave Newcastle a third when he passed the ball straight to Joelinton, who fired home from 18 yards to send the St James’s Park crowd home in high spirits.