U23s: Aston Villa 1-2 Newcastle United

Aston Villa’s Under-23s fell to a narrow 2-1 defeat to Newcastle United as their 2021/22 Premier League 2 campaign came to an end at Villa Park.

Tom Allan gave the Newcastle the lead with a strike from near the halfway line, before Kadan Young equalised for Villa just after half-time.

Adam Wilson’s mishit cross found the net late on to secure the three points for the visitors, with the result confirming a 10th-place finish for Mark Delaney’s side.

Villa started well and looked dangerous with runners in behind, as Indiana Vassilev dropped deep to cause problems.

The 21-year-old found Travis Patterson with a ball over the top just before the midway point of the first half, but his touch took him away from the danger area as he looked to beat Max Thompson in the Newcastle goal.

Tommi O’Reilly had a powerful shot deflected as half-time approached, with Patterson unable to take advantage when the ball dropped to him inside the box.

Despite the pressure applied by the hosts, Newcastle took the lead four minutes before the break when Allan found the net from just inside the Villa half after spotting Oliwier Zych off his line.

Delaney’s side continued to push despite the setback and they got a deserved equaliser just after the break, with Young in position to tap home from Frankie Ealing’s low cross.

Taylor-Jay Hart had an effort blocked and Indiana Vassilev saw a shot from a tight angle saved as Villa looked to build on the leveller, but it was Newcastle who found the decisive goal inside the final 10 minutes.

Wilson’s cross from the left-hand side was mishit but it had enough power to beat Zych at his near post and secure the win for the away side.