A first-half header from Johan Manzambi was enough to give Aston Villa all three points at Newcastle on Saturday.
The Swiss international -- who almost signed for the Toon -- nodded home from a João Gomes cross to put the visitors ahead, as Newcastle pressed for a response in the second half.
But the visitors held strong at the back in the second half and left Matthias Jaissle's men frustrated to take victory and move to eight points for the season.
Here's how it happened.
- Johan Manzambi to haunt Newcastle? Matthias Jaissle won't be 'distracted'
Newcastle went into the contest looking to bounce back from a disappointing 4-1 defeat away to newly promoted Coventry City on Monday.
Jack Rudoni opened the scoring from the penalty spot before Sidiki Cherif doubled Coventry's advantage shortly after half-time. Sven Botman got one back, but late strikes from Ellis Simms and Stephen Mfuni condemned the Magpies to their second successive 4-1 away defeat.
Aston Villa, meanwhile, arrived on Tyneside in buoyant mood following an emphatic 6-0 victory over Fenerbahce in the Champions League on Wednesday. Nicolas Jackson and Ross Barkley both scored twice, with Johan Manzambi and Tammy Abraham also on the scoresheet at Villa Park.
Saturday's hosts had conceded eight goals across their last two away league fixtures, having also shipped four away at Leeds.
Villa, meanwhile, translated their impressive Champions League form into domestic success. Emery's side followed a slow start to the campaign with a 3-2 league victory away to Tottenham Hotspur and a draw against Brentford before putting six goals past Fenerbahce in midweek.