Newcastle United were handed a 4-1 thrashing at the hands of Aston Villa, in what was a harsh reminder that the race for for a top 5 finish may not be as smooth as some first thought. Was this just simply one of those days? Or is there more cause for concern? Did the absence of Howe play a factor or were Villa simply THAT good? Either way the coaching staff and players will need to do all they can to ensure days like this are not repeated.