In a match that reignited football's endless debate over video assistant refereeing, Newcastle United secured their place in the FA Cup fifth round with a 3-1 victory over 10-man Aston Villa at Villa Park. Sandro Tonali's clinical double and a late strike from Nick Woltemade completed a comeback for Eddie Howe's side, who overcame both their opponents and a series of contentious officiating decisions.
A Night of Refereeing Controversy
The FA Cup's fourth round, which does not employ VAR until the fifth round, provided a stark reminder of the protocol's absence. Referee Chris Kavanagh and his assistants found themselves at the center of multiple controversial calls throughout the evening. The opening goal from Aston Villa's Tammy Abraham—his first since 2019—arrived from a clearly offside position after Douglas Luiz's clever free-kick, yet without VAR intervention, the goal stood.
Both managers had previously criticized VAR in recent weeks, yet here they witnessed its absence creating different frustrations. Kavanagh repeatedly allowed play to continue despite several penalty-area challenges that might have been reviewed in Premier League action. Lucas Digne's first-half yellow card for a heavy challenge on Jacob Murphy carried strong arguments for a red, with Murphy's leg bearing stud marks as evidence.
The Turning Point: Bizot's Red Card
The match's decisive moment arrived seconds before halftime when Villa goalkeeper Marco Bizot committed a baffling last-man foul on Murphy, fully 45 yards from goal. The red card was immediate and unquestionable, though Bizot himself required a second look at the touchline monitor to comprehend his error. His dismissal forced Villa to sacrifice Leon Bailey and introduce substitute goalkeeper Emi Martínez, leaving them with ten men for the entire second half.
Newcastle, who had shown greater commitment to the competition with six changes compared to Villa's seven, capitalized on their numerical advantage. The Toon Army, enduring a challenging season, finally saw signs of belief as their team fought back from Abraham's controversial opener.
Newcastle's Comeback and Tonali's Brilliance
Villa's defensive approach in the second half invited Newcastle pressure, though breakthrough initially proved difficult. Further controversy emerged when Digne appeared to handle the ball inside the penalty area, only for officials to rule it just outside. Justice was served indirectly as Tonali hammered home the rebound from the resulting free-kick to equalize.
Unai Emery's attempts to chase victory with substitutions of Ollie Watkins and Emi Buendía failed to shift momentum. Newcastle continued pressing, with Anthony Gordon missing a clear chance and Dan Burn being dragged down in the box without penalty. Tonali then delivered his second goal—another precise strike from the edge of the area, set up by Burn—before Woltemade tapped home from close range to seal victory after comedic Villa defending.
Cup Priorities and Season Context
For Newcastle, the FA Cup represents perhaps their only remaining chance for silverware this season, barring a Champions League miracle. Last year's Carabao Cup triumph at Wembley remains fresh, but Eddie Howe must navigate realities including Bruno Guimarães' absence through injury. Villa, meanwhile, prioritize Champions League qualification over ending a trophy drought stretching back to 1996.
This match marked Newcastle's 13th game of 2026 and Villa's 11th, highlighting packed schedules. Yet despite fatigue and controversy, Newcastle demonstrated resilience to advance, leaving Villa to reflect on disciplinary lapses and what might have been with different officiating.
