Johan Manzambi scored the only goal of the game in the 36th minute to make it back-to-back defeats for Matthias Jaissle's men, despite an improved second-half showing.

"We are frustrated with the result - we wanted to give our fans here at home a better one," said the head coach afterwards. "When you go through the match, I think the response was there. We controlled it without being constantly in the opposition box; something we need to work on.

"The team was a bit shaken after the goal we conceded but in the second half, I think straight away you felt that that energy, that belief again.

"But in the final third, we were lacking the decision-making today."

Joelinton made his first start of the season, coming in for Jacob Murphy in the only change to the starting XI from Monday night's loss at Coventry City.

United started brightly but it was a Villa breakaway which almost led to the first goal, as the visitors countered quickly from a Newcastle corner and Nicholas Jackson tested Lukáš Horníček, but the goalkeeper saved comfortably.

Joe Willock hit the side netting in the 15th minute, shooting from an acute angle after a pass from Lewis Hall, then Matty Cash did the same at the other end moments later.

Sven Botman deflected a Jackson effort off target in the 29th minute before Yoane Wissa's acrobatic attempt drifted wide for Newcastle.

But Manzambi couldn't miss when he ghosted in to meet João Gomes' right-wing delivery with a header which was too firm for Horníček to keep out.

The goalkeeper did get a vital hand soon afterwards to an Emiliano Buendía strike, pushing the ball onto the inside of his near post and allowing Hall to clear.

Botman's fierce shot was parried away by Zion Suzuki at the beginning of the second half as the defender went in search of his second goal in two games.

Wissa sent a looping header over the bar in the 65th minute, then saw a scissor kick blocked by Boubacar Kamara - but although Newcastle were much better after the break, they were still struggling to create genuine opportunities to level.

And Horníček did well to divert substitute Ross Barkey's snapshot behind and keep his side in the game as it headed into the final quarter of an hour.

Joelinton teed up Wissa for an 80th minute strike, but the Newcastle number nine was off target. Then, after Ibrahim Mbaye went close for Villa, Wissa had another golden opportunity late on. He carried the ball upfield superbly, but his final touch let him down as he blazed wide at the Gallowgate End.

By now, loud fireworks could be heard outside the stadium but there was still little to light up the atmosphere inside it - even when Dan Burn was sent on as an auxiliary forward for six minutes of stoppage time - and it was the visiting Villa fans who were singing at the final whistle.

Newcastle United: Lukáš Horníček, Lewis Hall, Sven Botman, Nico González, Joelinton (c) (Dan Burn 90), Yoane Wissa, Harvey Barnes, Malick Thiaw, Matias Fernandez-Pardo (Bazoumana Touré 57), Joe Willock (William Osula 57), Lewis Miley

Substitutes: Nick Pope, Fabian Schär, Aladji Bamba, Sean Steur, Jacob Murphy, Amar Dedić