In front of 1,060 spectators, United's second-string trailed in the final minutes of the opening half as Sil Swinkels headed home from Todd Alcock's in-swinging free-kick.

Kobei Moore missed a penalty for the visitors in the latter stages of the contest, firing his spot-kick over the crossbar, but Newcastle's youngsters were unable to salvage a late equaliser as their West Midlands counterparts prevailed in a narrow contest.

Ben Dawson made three changes from the side which claimed a 2-1 win against Stoke City on Friday night as Ben Parkinson, who made his Premier League debut for his boyhood club away at AFC Bournemouth in November 2023, led the line while Scotland youth internationals Charlie McArthur and Lucas De Bolle, the latter replacing the injured Jamie Miley, were also handed starts for the young Magpies. 

Newcastle goalkeeper Aidan Harris, who was named on the bench for United's UEFA Champions League Group F trip to AC Milan in September, produced an important stop within the opening minute, getting down quickly to push away Rory Wilson's low goalbound effort following a dangerous run from the Scottish forward.

Dylan Stephenson, who netted in United's 2-1 win against Stoke on Friday, was unable to net in consecutive fixtures at under-21 level after heading over the bar from Leo Shahar's in-swinging corner.

Villa struck the woodwork shortly after as a short corner saw Kadan Young's resulting shot blocked inside a crowded penalty area before Todd Alcock's fierce rebound struck the outside of the right-hand post.

Harris produced an excellent save to deny Young as the 17-year-old goalkeeper, who joined United's youth set-up in 2017, tipped the winger's curling effort, destined for the top left-hand corner, onto the crossbar.

In the 42nd minute, Villa took the lead through Swinkels' header. After Shahar produced an unfortunate slip before fouling Kyrie Pierre on the left flank, Alcock's resulting free-kick was floated into Swinkels' path, who beat Harris to the ball before heading into the net, with the United squad left frustrated after Young, stranded into an offside position, looked to block Harris in the build-up.

Newcastle almost drew level on the stroke of half-time as Alfie Harrison, who joined Newcastle from Manchester City in February 2024, fired an inviting cross towards the back post, forcing Swinkels to turn the ball out for a corner inside the six-yard area.

In the second-half, United's youngsters were fortunate not to fall behind after failing to clear Alcock's corner before Young sliced a wild effort from close-range wide of the target. 

Newcastle nearly found themselves on level terms through Stephenson as the Blyth-born striker, who scored his first senior goal during a 5-0 win against Al Hilal in the Diriyah Season Cup clash in December 2022, controlled the ball inside the penalty area before his fizzing drive was held by Villa goalkeeper Lander Emery, son of Villans head coach Unai.

United's second-string were dealt a tough blow shortly after as Villa were awarded a penalty as Magpies skipper Cathal Heffernan fouled Travis Patterson inside the box following the midfielder's strike at goal.

However, Moore was unable to double the visitors' lead after, despite sending Harris the wrong way, placing his attempt from 12 yards over the crossbar.

Kyle Crossley, introduced from the substitutes' bench, went close to netting his seventh goal in as many Premier League 2 matches in the dying minutes as the 19-year-old forward raced onto Jay Turner-Cooke's pass but was unable to round Emery despite the Spaniard's initial slip, with the Villa goalkeeper recovering in time to smother the ball inside the box.

The young Magpies will be aiming to end their 2023/24 campaign with a piece of silverware when facing an away trip to Ashington in the Northumberland Senior Cup semi-finals on Thursday night (kick-off 7.30pm BST), with the winner facing Blyth Town in the final at St. James' Park.

Newcastle United Under-21s: Aidan Harris (Will Brown 90), Leo Shahar, Cathal Heffernan (c), Charlie McArthur, Dylan Charlton (Ciaran Thompson 81), Ellis Stanton (Jay Turner-Cooke 65), Lucas De Bolle, Alfie Harrison (Kyle Crossley 65), Dylan Stephenson, Amadou Diallo, Ben Parkinson (Jordan Hackett 65).