With 50 points, Aston Villa are 6th only six lengths behind their victim of the day, still third, but who has one game less.
Unai Emery's magic continues to operate at Birmingham, at a club he had taken to the gates of the red zone, with two wins after eleven rounds.
But since his arrival, the Villans have won 12 times for two draws and four defeats, with only Manchester City and Arsenal doing better.
Over the last eight games, they have even taken 22 points out of a possible 24.
On Saturday again, against the Magpies yet in form, they largely dominated the match in the wake of their striker Ollie Watkins in super-form.
After just 28 seconds, he had broken company with the white and black defence, but his attempt had found the post.
Ten minutes later, it was again he who rose above everyone else to skillfully put back to Jacob Ramsey who opened the scoring (1-0, 11th).
Ramsey came close to the double by finding the crossbar in the 15th minute, against an overwhelmed Newcastle.
The changes made by Eddie Howe at the beginning of the second half woke up his team a little, Alexander Isak and Miguel Almiron, blow after blow, being close to equalizing around the hour of play.
But after being denied a goal for a minimal offside (62nd), Watkins doubled the pivot (2-0, 64th), before closing the score (3-0, 83rd), served back by Ramsey.
With his 11 goals in his team's last 12 games, Watkins is certainly on the radar of Gareth Southgate, always looking for an understudy for Harry Kane in the national team.
© 2023 AFP