Newcastle boss Matthias Jaissle believes just the “lucky punch” was missing from his side’s performance against Aston Villa this evening.

The home side mustered only one effort on target as Villa’s Johan Manzambi – a summer target for Newcastle – settled the game with a first-half header.

The Newcastle fans vented their frustration at the final whistle with loud boos echoing around St James’ Park but Jaissle felt his players deserved more.

He told Sky Sports: “It was in fact a game where we were dominating, overseeing a team giving a response, we made many situations where you saw we were about to win that game until we conceded the goal.

“We need to be honest – we were shaking a bit until half-time but we showed again a good response. Second 45 minutes, really aggressive from our lads. We won the duels, unfortunately we were not smart enough in the final decision-making in the opposition box so that is something we need to work on. We need to threaten the opposition much more when we have the ball in the final third. We had the occasions but in the end, the lucky punch was missing.”

Jaissle defends reckless Newcastle

Jaissle’s side were certainly aggressive, Sven Botman escaping with a yellow card for a horrendous shin-high lunge on Nicolas Jackson while Joelinton also remained on the field despite committing numerous clumsy fouls after being booked early on for a poor tackle on Manzambi.

“Honestly, it was really fast, both actions. So I was in the beginning sure there was no foul from Joelinton but it went so fast. The decision-making was clear from the referee and I think they checked even the foul from Sven but I didn’t see it right now,” said Jaissle.

Jackson was more forthright, the Villa striker saying: “I’m good. I know the referee said yellow card but it was so high and hopefully maybe next time a red card, but it was a yellow. I nearly broke my leg but anyway it’s part of football. The most important thing is we win and we won so I’m okay and he [Manzambi] is OK.”

Emery enjoys Aston Villa resurgence

The win moved Villa up to 12th and their slow start appears to be behind them. Unai Emery’s men have now won six of their last eight games in all competitions.

He said: ”Very tough and for us it was very important after our poor start [to the season] we need to try to come back feeling confident, feeling comfortable how we are building our structure.

“The players themselves tried to be demanding to change the situation where we are. How we achieved three points in Tottenham then the draw we did last week with Brentford, today was very, very important. We focused on this match in meetings before as well, of course we’re happy with the match we played in the Champions League [a 6-0 win over Fenerbahce] but the league is the priority because through the league we are going to achieve our priority this year, so the league is the competition where we must try to be very consistent.

“Clean sheet on Wednesday, clean sheet today I think this is one thing we are speaking about and wanting to improve.”

On matchwinner Manzambi, he added: “Skills and intelligence, both he has, and his physicality is very important as well to help us defensively and to help us try to keep the duels offensively.

“So happy. Of course another goal he has scored. Fantastic for him as well. He has had a very good impact with his qualities and his wish to join us in the same challenges and performances in the last three or four years playing as well consistently in the Premier League in the top positions as well in Europe.”