Aston Villa’s Senegalese striker Nicolas Jackson is unhappy that Sven Botman’s tackle only earned a yellow card during the Villans’ 1-0 win at St James’ Park.
Aston Villa left St James’ Park with all three points. Nicolas Jackson, though, made no attempt to hide his anger. The Senegalese striker was on the receiving end of a Sven Botman tackle before the 20th minute, on matchday 7 of the Premier League. The referee produced a yellow card, which stood after the VAR intervention.
The 1-0 scoreline in the Villans’ favour says nothing about that incident. Former England international Stephen Warnock, now a pundit and ex-player, highlighted the excessive force of the tackle in his post-match analysis.
Yellow confirmed after VAR
It all started with Joelinton losing the ball, followed by a challenge on Johan Manzambi, then Sven Botman’s tackle on Nicolas Jackson. The referee cautioned the defender with a yellow card, a decision that did not change after the VAR review, according to Flashscore.
After the match, Nicolas Jackson reacted. “I’m good. I know the referee said yellow card but it was so high and hopefully maybe next time a red card, but it was a yellow. I nearly broke my leg but anyway it’s part of football,” he told Flashscore. In essence, he says he is fine, that he knew the referee had given a yellow, but that the tackle came in very high: he hopes that next time it will be a red. He nearly broke his leg, but that is part of football.
Manzambi decisive, Wissa silent
Aston Villa built their win on a single goal, scored in the 36th minute by striker Johan Manzambi, with a header from a João Gomes cross, according to Sport News Africa. The club finished with 50.7% possession and 3 shots on target from 15 attempts.
At the other end, Newcastle had 16 shots for just one on target, Sport News Africa notes. DR Congo international striker Yoane Wissa drew a blank, and Villa goalkeeper Zion Suzuki had only one save to make. Newcastle therefore never found the back of the net.
Jackson and the run of fixtures ahead
With this 1-0 at St James’ Park, Aston Villa win on Newcastle’s turf. Nicolas Jackson, who says he is fine, stayed on the pitch despite a tackle he considers too high.
Both teams return to Premier League action on matchday 8, over the weekend of 24-25 October 2026.