Newcastle United have strengthened their grip on fourth spot in the Premier League table courtesy of a 4-0 victory over Aston Villa at St James' Park.

The Magpies have now picked up 24 points from their opening 13 matches of the campaign, and the result has seen them move three points clear of fifth-placed Chelsea, who lost 4-1 at Brighton & Hove Albion.

Eddie Howe's side have now won their last three in the league and five of their last six, while the heavy defeat has left Villa in 14th position in the table on 12 points.

Newcastle had an opportunity to make the breakthrough in just the third minute when Kieran Trippier found Callum Wilson inside the Villa box, but the striker headed over the crossbar.

The next serious chance of the game did not arrive until the 24th minute, with Leon Bailey breaking into a dangerous area before picking out the run of Emiliano Buendia, but the attacker's effort was brilliantly blocked by Dan Burn.

Villa goalkeeper Robin Olsen, who replaced the injured Emiliano Martinez off the bench in the 35th minute, was called into action to make a smart save in the 44th minute, keeping out Miguel Almiron's low shot.

However, Newcastle made the breakthrough in the sixth minute of added time at the end of the first period, with Wilson netting from the penalty spot after Ashley Young had blocked an effort from Almiron with his hand.

Wilson again had the ball in the back of the net shortly after, but the offside flag saved Villa on this occasion, with just the one goal separating the two sides at the half-time break.

Newcastle did have their second in the 56th minute, though, and the goalscorer was no surprise, with Wilson doubling his tally for the afternoon by heading a cross from Trippier into the back of the net.

The Magpies then made it 3-0 in the 59th minute, with Joelinton scoring from close range after Wilson had seen his effort saved by Olsen.

Three became four in the 67th minute, and this time it was Almiron, who cut inside from the right wing before brilliantly picking out the bottom corner with a curling effort.

Wilson hit the crossbar with a header in the 76th minute, and Newcastle had a couple of half-chances to add to the scoreline in the final exchanges, but it finished 4-0, with Howe's side putting in another hugely impressive performance. body check tags ::