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When the ball looped up into the air and threatened to drop between the Aston Villa striker and the Newcastle United goalkeeper, you just knew there was only going to be one winner.

Ollie Watkins leapt highest, put his body on the line and threw himself at the ball. The relief on his face said it all. The 25-year-old had ended his nine-game drought without a goal, and had silenced the minute percentage of critics or doubters questioning his Premier League credentials.

In truth, those who have questioned his ability at this level must have been purely casting an eye over the statistics, rather than tuning in to catch Watkins in action over the course of an entire 90 minutes.

For when you actually sit down and concentrate on what the striker brings to a game outside of cold, hard facts and figures, you quickly realise that he was born to compete against defenders at the highest level.

His opening goal of the evening did highlight one of his greatest strengths – his instinct. Watkins can smell goals, and he remains alert to even the slightest morsel of hope that the ball may drop to his feet. And when it does, he will be waiting.

That moment arrived on 13 minutes, when he anticipated Fabian Schar may miss his interception, and sniffed out the chance before shot-stopper Karl Darlow had time to flatten him. It was a brave header, but Watkins won’t tell you that it was courage – he’ll tell you it was his instinct.

His second major talking point arrived soon after, when he demonstrated two of his other key traits: movement and clinical finishing. Watkins is a proper live-wire, buzzing around the opposition backline and slipping in between markers at every given opportunity.

He loves drifting into wide areas and loitering like a hawk, waiting to swoop down onto its prey. And he did exactly that, studying Jack Grealish’s glide up the pitch, and anticipating his killer pass. Watkins sprung into action, racing onto the through ball and sliding a perfect shot home without a second thought.

Unfortunately, he’d jumped the gun this time, but it was clear that confidence was flowing through his veins.

Ultimately, it was his work rate and ability when not bearing down on goal which impressed onlookers the most – yet again. Watkins made it his night’s mission to terrorise and harass each centre-back, popping up on the left, the right and down the middle without warning.

He anticipated every pass arriving in his path, sprinting on angles to receive long punts downfield from Emi Martinez, and bringing the ball out of the sky and under his spell with deadly precision. Then, back to goal, he would wait for support, hold off his marker and make another penetrative run in behind a ragged Newcastle defence.

The Villa star knows exactly when to come short, when to stretch the backline, or when to put his head down, charge forward and draw desperate tackles from tiring defenders.

Watkins knows how to make every centre-back close his eyes at night, and see the forward’s face – or more accurately, see his back racing away into the distance.

And as for Watkins, he’ll sleep as soundly as he always should, safe in the knowledge that scoring goals is only a fraction of his well-rounded and dynamic style of play. Appreciate him, Villans, just as much as his teammates do.

Non-league Chorley put in a valiant display against Wolves, but a stunning first-half goal from Vitinha was enough to hand the visitors a narrow 1-0 win.

Separated by five divisions, there was little expectation that the home side could replicate their 1986 FA Cup heroics against a Wolves team boasting a whole host of international stars – but that didn’t stop the hosts from pushing the Premier League side to the limit.

In truth, the visitors were very poor in a game that lacked quality, and the contest was only really illuminated by a stunning strike from Vitinha; one that arrowed into the top corner from at least 30 yards out after Chorley failed to close him down.

The home side were inevitably dogged, and the game did feature some crunching tackles and a hilarious exchange that saw Chorley manager Jamie Vermiglio laugh in the face of Adama Traore after a bit of handbags.

Right, enough of all that, let’s rate the visitors surprisingly strong team.

John Ruddy (GK) – 6/10 – Called into action far more frequently than he would have expected. Alert early on to deny Elliot Newby when the game had only just got going.

Willy Boly (CB) – 7/10 – Expected to dominate in the air and did so for the most part. A calming presence in a system very familiar to him by now.

Conor Coady (CB) – 6/10 – Looks far more assured playing in a back three, and mopped up well under some fairly intense home pressure.

Max Kilman (CB) – 6/10 –  Recalled to the side and will feel that his performance on the night may be enough to convince Nuno that he should revert back to this shape in the Premier League.

Ki-Jana Hoever (RWB) – 5/10 – Offered little in the final third and should be disappointed to have not influenced the game more. Was a big chance to show what he can do and didn’t take it.

Joao Moutinho (CM) – 5/10: Has Moutinho been cloned and replaced with somebody not quite as good? Looks a shadow of the class player we all know he is.

Leander Dendoncker (CM) – 6/10 – Combative in midfield but misplaced a number of passes. Not his finest hour in a game he should really have dominated.

Vitinha (CM) – 8/10 – Scored a goal worthy of winning any game. Has plenty of maturing to do, but can use this display as a stepping stone for bigger and better things.

Rayan Ait-Nouri (LWB) – 5/10 – Another player who didn’t really show Nuno what he can do. Is highly rated and has obvious talent, but must do more to engage himself in the game.

Patrick Cutrone (ST) – 5/10 – Can tell he’s been away on loan, and was alarmingly off the pace. Opportunity missed.

Fabio Silva (ST) – 6/10 – Worked hard up front but failed to stamp his authority on the game. Is young and will learn, but must do so quickly given his enormous price tag.

Pedro Neto (LW) – 5/10

Adama Traore (RW) – 5/10

Ruben Neves (CM) – 5/10