Aston Villa 2-0 Newcastle United: Hourihane and El Ghazi condemn returning Bruce to defeat

Aston Villa beat Newcastle United 2-0 in Monday's Premier League clash to end its losing streak, thanks to goals from Conor Hourihane and Anwar El Ghazi.

Anwar El Ghazi celebrates after scoring for Aston Villa, which moves up to 15th after bagging its first home league win in seven attempts against Newcastle.

Conor Hourihane and Anwar El Ghazi scored first-half goals to end Aston Villa's three-match losing run in the Premier League, as it beat Newcastle United 2-0 on Steve Bruce's return to Villa Park.

Bruce was sacked by Villa in October 2018, just over four months after losing the Championship play-off final, and he had little to celebrate in Monday's clash.

Martin Dubravka produced a fingertip save to keep out Douglas Luiz's 25-yard drive but was beaten by Hourihane, the midfielder whipping a free-kick around the wall and into the net.

Villa quickly added a second through El Ghazi, who turned in Hourihane's set-piece delivery from close range for his third league goal of the season, though only after a VAR check for offside.

Allan Saint-Maximin, Isaac Hayden and substitute Andy Carroll all tested Tom Heaton in the second half but Newcastle, who had won back-to-back matches ahead of the trip to the Midlands, could not find a way through.

A first home league win in seven attempts against Newcastle lifts Villa up to 15th.