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VIEW MATCH REPORT

Sunday 12 Feb 2006
Aston Villa 1 - 2 Newcastle United, Feb 11th, 2006
Given saves Baros pen as Toon mini-revival continues.

Shay Given saved a second-half penalty from Milan Baros as 10-man Newcastle United maintained their mini-revival under Glenn Roeder and took advantage of Aston Villa's poor home form.
Shola Ameobi opened the scoring for the Magpies after just two minutes and, after Luke Moore had headed Villa level, Charles N'Zogbia restored the advantage.

Substitute Baros had a golden chance to bring Villa level for a second time after he was brought down by Celestine Babayaro, who was deemed to be the last defender and sent off by referee Mike Riley.

Baros opted to shoot straight down the middle of the goal and was denied by Given, who saved with his feet.

Villa, lacking three of their first-choice midfield in Steven Davis, Gavin McCann and on-loan Newcastle star James Milner, camped in the Magpies half for the second period as they tried to make their numerical advantage count.

Baros looked lively and a threat apart from his spot-kick blunder and Gareth Barry did his best to drive Villa forward but Newcastle, for whom Given and defender Titus Bramble had solid games, stood firm.

A second win under academy director Roeder will buy chairman Freddy Shepherd more time as he searches for Graeme Souness' successor.

Villa will reflect on a home record of just three victories during the current campaign which has blighted their hopes of climbing into the top half of the table.

The damage was done for the home side in the first half when Newcastle were a constant threat with Emre causing plenty of problems and they also dominated the aerial exchanges.

Alan Shearer had become United's record goalscorer the previous week but he became creator in setting up the decisive strikes for Ameobi and N'Zogbia.

The game got off to a dramatic start with Newcastle taking the lead after only 80 seconds via Ameobi.

Former Villa player Nolberto Solano had a hand in the build-up to the goal.

Solano played the ball into Shearer whose delightful first-time flick allowed Ameobi a free run at goal from the right. He kept his cool before drilling a low shot cross Thomas Sorensen into the corner of the net.

Ameobi had a chance to double Newcastle's lead after he found himself in a good position 15 yards out but his shot struck Villa skipper Olof Mellberg.

Villa drew level in the 17th minute with Moore continuing his hot streak by scoring his fifth goal in the last three matches.

Moore was fouled by Bramble but got off the ground to meet the resulting free-kick by debutant Craig Gardner at the near post and send a glancing header past Given.

Villa defender Mark Delaney became the first player to be booked for bringing down Ameobi with a mistimed challenge.

Barry cut inside to try his luck with a dipping 25-yarder which flew only a yard wide before Newcastle regained the lead after half an hour through N'Zogbia's fifth goal of the campaign.

Shearer was again the creator with another inch-perfect ball into the path of Solano whose powerful shot was beaten out by Sorensen.

The Villa defence seemed slow to react to the rebound and N'Zogbia needed no second invitation to turn the ball into the corner of the net.

Newcastle were dominating in the air and the home team were grateful to Delaney for clearing off the line from Shearer's powerful shot on the turn after Ameobi had headed an Emre corner into his path.

Jean-Alain Boumsong should have done better when he met a corner from Emre but his downward header bounced over Sorensen's crossbar. Lee Hendrie could have equalised in first half injury-time but scuffed his attempted volley past the post from Barry's cross.

Gardner was booked for a foul on Scott Parker as Newcastle dominated the opening exchanges of the second period.

Parker also went into Riley's notebook for a challenge on Hendrie who was injured in the process and replaced as part of a double substitution in the 56th minute.

Hendrie and Kevin Phillips made way for Juan Pablo Angel and Baros as Villa switched to a 4-3-3 formation.

Manager David O'Leary was forced into another change when Gardner limped off to be replaced by Liam Ridgewell.

Angel had an early chance to make an impact but failed to connect properly with his left-footed drive which Given saved comfortably.

Newcastle were reduced to 10 men when Babayaro was deemed to be the last man when he brought down Baros in the box.

Baros stepped up to take the penalty but his low shot straight down the middle of the goal was kept out by Given.

Liam Ridgewell hit the bar with a thumping header from Peter Whittingham's corner and Given tipped over Angel's volley as Newcastle held out.