Johan Manzambi haunts the club he nearly joined as Aston Villa win 1-0 at Newcastle

Johan Manzambi was supposed to be playing for Newcastle this season. Instead he beat them.

The 21-year-old Swiss midfielder headed home the only goal as Aston Villa won 1-0 at St James' Park on Saturday. Manzambi had agreed to join Newcastle in the summer before Villa came in late and signed him instead.

The goal

Manzambi rose to meet a curling cross from Joao Gomes in the 36th minute and nodded it past goalkeeper Lukas Hornicek. It was his second Premier League goal of the season and came days after he scored in a 6-0 Champions League rout of Fenerbahce on his 21st birthday.

"I knew this team was very good," Manzambi said after the game. "I played against them in the Europa League final last season. I knew it was a very good team with a big coach. I knew that it was perfect for me."

A red card that never came

The game turned heated early. Newcastle defender Sven Botman was shown a yellow card for a high, reckless tackle on Villa striker Nicolas Jackson. Video review checked it for serious foul play but the card was not upgraded and Botman stayed on.

"The referee said it was a yellow card but it was so high," Jackson said. "Hopefully next time it is a red card. I nearly broke my leg, but it's fine. It's part of football."

Newcastle's struggles go on

Newcastle did not put a shot on target in the first half. Villa goalkeeper Zion Suzuki made a fingertip save on a blast from Botman early in the second half and that was the home side's only shot on target all night. Emiliano Buendia hit the post for Villa and Hornicek stopped a Ross Barkley shot.

The home fans booed at halftime and at the final whistle as the slow start under manager Matthias Jaissle continued. Newcastle have now gone 16 straight games in all competitions without a clean sheet, a club record. They have also lost back-to-back league games.

Villa find their groove

"It was a perfect away Premier League performance," Villa captain Tyrone Mings said. "St James' Park is so difficult to come to. It feels like a big win."

It was the 100th Premier League win for Villa boss Unai Emery across his time with Arsenal and Villa. His team is unbeaten in five games in all competitions and moved level with Newcastle on eight points, one place behind them in 12th.