JHON DURAN saw red after a horror challenge on Fabian Schar.
The 21-year-old Aston Villa striker eventually ousted Ollie Watkins from the starting lineup for Unai Emery in recent weeks.
But he only lasted half an hour on the Boxing Day journey to Newcastle.
Duran previously showed his frustration when he was not allowed to take a free kick, but lost his cool during a running match with Schar.
The Colombian youngster lost in the battle and ended up in a tackle on the Newcastle centre-back.
He apparently landed with his left foot on Schar's left hip.
But in a secondary move, Duran shot out his right boot, catching Schar on the back with his studs and then driving his foot up toward his opponent's head.
That sparked a furious response from Newcastle trio Martin Dubravka, Dan Burn and Joelinton, who quickly protested against Duran as Schar held onto the sore spots on his backside as he lay on the turf.
Referee Anthony Taylor took his time before waving the red card.
And there were few complaints from the Villa man, his teammates or the manager.
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Duran then risked further punishment by angrily kicking a water bottle along the touchline before being marched down the tunnel.
Emery barely looked at his number 9, knowing he might have ruined Christmas for Villa.
The visitors fell behind in the second minute at St James' Park thanks to Anthony Gordon's excellent curling finish.
But they felt they should have been back up to standard in terms of players on the field just before half-time.
Joelinton swung a stray arm at Morgan Rogers and grabbed the Villa man around the neck.
Rogers went down in a heap, in a desperate attempt to earn Joelinton a red card.
But Taylor decided that yellow was punishment enough.
At half-time in the tunnel, emotions were running high again when Eddie Howe's assistant Jason Tindall and a Villa analyst both saw red.
Tindall was separated from Emery in the first half when the two coaching staff clashed.
But the conversation on social media during the break was all about Duran's moment of madness – although many suggested he was going to have a hard time receiving his marching orders.
One said: “Harsh red.”
Another wrote: “Not in a million years.”
And a third added: “Shameful decision.”
But another user replied: “I'd give him the advantage on the first one, but on the second one it's so deliberate.”
And a final comment: “He tries to do it 100 percent, right decision red card, more intention than actual contact.”
Ex-Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Give also gave his assessment during half-time.
He told Amazon Prime Video: “I think Schar makes a brilliant tackle.
“But I think he leaves a little bit on Duran in the tackle and Duran responds by raking his studs at him.”
Duran – who scored in successive starts against Southampton, Nottingham Forest and Manchester City – will now be ruled out for Villa's home games with Brighton, Leicester and then West Ham in the FA Cup.
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