Source: Daily_Mail
Aston Villa v Newcastle live
Follow Sportsmail's coverage of the Barclays Premier League as Aston Villa host Newcastle at Villa Park to wrap up Sunday's action. Gerard Houllier's side are desperate for three points in their battle for survival but the visitors are aiming for a win that takes them past the considered safety mark of 40 points. Email me your thoughts on the game at dan.ripley@dailymail.co.uk[LNB] Aston Villa 1-0 Newcastle (4pm)Aston Villa: Friedel, Walker (Cuellar 78), Dunne,Collins, Luke Young, Downing, Petrov, Makoun (Reo-Coker 67), Ashley Young, Agbonlahor (Pires 86),Bent.Subs: Marshall, Albrighton, Heskey, Clark.[LNB]Goals: Collins 24.[LNB]Newcastle: Harper, Simpson, Steven Taylor (Ryan Taylor 63), Williamson, JoseEnrique, Barton, Guthrie, Coloccini, Gutierrez, Ranger (Kuqi 83), Lovenkrands.Subs: Krul, Ferguson, Donaldson, Tavernier, Richardson.[LNB]Referee: Stuart Attwell (Warwickshire) [LNB]17.58: I remain unconvinced about Villa though. They won and on the balance of play probably just edged it, but they hardly battered a Newcastle side who didn't look too interested.[LNB]Pardew will be disappointed with his side's effort and can't complain at the result, they simply created very, very little.[LNB]Thank you for following today, that's all from me.[LNB]17.55: Villa become the only side to win in the bottom half this weekend, and they move up to 14th. Not a classic by any means but a massive three points for the hosts who are now five points clear of the bottom three.[LNB]Full-time: Aston Villa 1-0 Newcastle[LNB]90+5min: That is rubbish though, as Taylor's effort clears the crossbar.[LNB]90+4min: Here we go though. Friedel makes a close range stop from Lovenkrands before Cuellar is booked for a clumsy challenge on Fabricio Coloccini, and Newcastle have a free-kick 23 yards out...[LNB]90+3min: I'm still waiting for Newcastle to just throw everybody up but it's not happening.[LNB]90min: Barton is booked, for an off-the-ball incident and there will be five added minutes.[LNB]89min: Too little, too late for Newcastle as they finally apply pressure and go close to an equaliser.[LNB]Barton clips a ball in the box which Lovenkrands heads towards goal. It is too close to Friedel though who dives to his left to hold on.[LNB] Seeing yellow: Petrov was booked for the above foul on Barton (front)[LNB]88min: Some very anxious faces in the stands at Villa Park, and it's not from the away fans. Petrov and Ashley Young receive treatment as we have a stop in play.[LNB]86min: Agbonlahor looks like he is carrying a slight strain and makes way for Robert Pires.[LNB]85min: Kuqi is already causing some uncertainty as Newcastle win just their second corner of the match. Barton is worse than Ashley Young at corners though, and Freidel gobbles up his cross.[LNB]83min: Shefki Kuqi replaces Ranger and that at least gives Newcastle something to aim at in attack.[LNB]80min: Petrov is booked after a clumsy foul on Barton, I know it's still only 1-0 but the hosts look so comfortable.[LNB]78min: A second change for Villa with Carlos Cuellar on for Kyle Walker.[LNB]77min: Still Villa press for a second, but are not desperately seeking it. Who knows what Newcastle are playing at? This half has completely passed them by.[LNB]74min: Better from Newcastle but they need to think this through. They counter through Taylor on the right and as good as his cross is, Ranger isn't going to out-muscle and out-jump Collins or Dunne in a month of Sundays.[LNB]72min: Villa look more likely to get a second if anything but after winning successive corners, Ashley Young's deliveries are poor and Newcastle survive.[LNB]70min: What are Newcastle made of in these final 20 minutes? Friedel has hardly touched the ball this half and you fancy the Toon will have to lead some sort of late assault.[LNB]67min: One mesmerising pass aside, Makoun has done nothing and makes way for Reo-Coker. I back Houllier on that one, the January arrival has been anonymous.[LNB]66min: Villa also preparing a sub, with Nigel Reo-Coker warming up.[LNB]63min: Respect for referees? Luke Young feels he should win a corner after a tight call on the byline goes in favour of Newcastle. He and Agbonlahor then sprint to and surround the referee demanding at least an explanation. Just get on with the game chaps.[LNB]Ryan Taylor replaces his namesake Steven for Newcastle.[LNB] Blocked: Jose Enrique (centre) struggles to find a way past Makoun (left) and Ashley Young[LNB]60min: If anything Villa are the more dangerous on the counter. Bent goes down after a slight push from Taylor and FIFA would say it's a penalty. But Stuart Attwell takes the common sense approach and decides the striker takes to the ground far too easily.[LNB]57min: Pardew must be thinking about changes, Villa are always back in numbers and Richard Dunne has Ranger in his back pocket. A mis-match in terms of a physical battle.[LNB]54min: Very, very close. Harper gets the faintest of touches to Ashley Young's rasping drive to turn it behind. Goal kick is given though.[LNB]52min: After a bright start to the half, Newcastle are struggling to get the ball as Villa start to assert themselves. Playing a constant long ball though doesn't help matters.[LNB]49min: Top, top save from Harper. Newcastle give the ball away in midfield and once again it's Agbonlahor with a counter down the left. As he gets a slight angle on goal he hits a powerful effort that the keeper does well to parry away to a safe area.[LNB]46min: Interesting, just had another look at Bent's strike and his right-foot does actually look to be offside. A good call after all?[LNB]Second-half: Teams back out and there is no changes as Villa re-start proceedings. Houllier and Bent were seething about that disallowed goal in the break by the way.[LNB]16.54: So let's not write Newcastle off. They had some good chances early on and although they faded as the half wore on, a Pardew team-talk could give them the kick up the proverbial they need.[LNB]16.50: Villa with a deserved lead at half-time, but no side has thrown away more points from winning positions this season than Villa.[LNB]If they had kept all 23 they have let slip, they would be in a Champions League spot.[LNB]Half-time: Aston Villa 1-0 Newcastle[LNB]45+1min: Two minutes added on.[LNB]45min: Brilliant from Jean Makoun. He has done absolutely nothing all game, but on the edge of the box his dummy shot fools everyone, as he slips Bent through instead who simply puts the ball in the back of the net. The flag has gone up for offside though but replays show it's a bad decision.[LNB] Away you go: Darren Bent (left) makes his way past Mike Williamson[LNB]43min: Better from Newcastle, Enrique manages to escape down the left but his cross is cut out for a corner, which Villa clear. Ok it wasn't great but is it an improvement on the threat they have shown.[LNB]41min: Delay in the game after Ashley Young receives treatment on his leg following the winger's challenge on Jose Enrique. He should be fine to continue.[LNB]38min: Big chance for Bent. Stewart Downing does well to go past Danny Simpson on the flank before his cross is headed over by the striker four yards out.[LNB]Apologies for my error regarding Williamson at 23min. It was of course 'Mike' with the body check.[LNB]36min: As comfortable as Villa look, Newcastle are not making them work for this. Ranger and Lovenkrands' influence up top is waning.[LNB]33min: Newcastle just starting to play a bit more passing football in Villa's half now but they have to watch it as Ashley young and Agbonlahor look so dangerous on the break. Visitors lacking a few ideas either way.[LNB]30min: Just a slight lack of movement from Villa as they work an attack on the edge of the box. Stewart Downing gives up trying to find a pass and instead shoots over.[LNB]27min: The cheer around the ground had an echo of relief more than joy, Villa good value for the goal though, they have played the better stuff.[LNB] Delight: James Collins (right) celebrates opening the scoring for Aston Villa[LNB]24min: GOAL! ASTON VILLA 1-0 Newcastle[LNB]It's nearly impossible to defend that. Moments later, Villa win another free-kick and Ashley Young's cross is perfectly glanced into the bottom corner by James Collins from 16 yards out. Brilliant header.[LNB]23min: How on earth can Mike Williamson complain about his booking here? Gabriel Agbonlahor leads a Villa counter and after poking the ball past the defender is blatantly body checked.[LNB]20min: What is Collins doing?! Marking Ranger, he decides to consciously walk away from the striker who is played in on goal.[LNB]Luckily for him, Ranger's shot is weak and Brad Friedel is down low to keep hold of his effort from inside the box.[LNB]17min: Some very strong defending from Newcastle has limited the hosts so far. Villa having no problem reaching the penalty box but can't get close to forcing Harper into save.[LNB]14min: Decent chance that. A cross evades everyone in the Villa box except for Joey Barton, who at the far post and unmarked heads miles over. Not an easy header but he should do a lot better with it.[LNB]13min: Corner to ViIla after Jonas Gutierrez forces a cross behind, the visitors comfortably clear though. Good game this. [LNB] In the way: The referee's assistant gets tangled with Newcastle's Lovenkrands (left) and Villa's Dunne[LNB]10min: But here you would. James Collins is caught out of position at the back and 25 yards out Nile Ranger has a great opportunity to play in Peter Lovenkrands for a one-on-one chance.[LNB]Monday's headlines are already in his head though and his shot cannons off a defender. A waste and Lovenkrands makes sure he knows it was.[LNB]9min: No chances but the home side are playing with much more confidence and a neat passing game. On this evidence you wouldn't guess they were struggling near the bottom.[LNB]6min: Newcastle settling a little more but it's still Villa looking the more dangerous. Ashley Young looks up for this with a couple of tasty passes played by him already.[LNB]3min: Steven Taylor concedes a needless corner with a header, but Ashley Young's cross is punched clear by Steve Harper.[LNB]2min: I have high hopes for this game, it never tends to be dull when Villa are playing. Some early sparring between the sides.[LNB]Kick-off: Newcastle in their white change strip get us going.[LNB]15.57: The teams are out on a sunny afternoon at Villa Park, no need to tell you the Geordie following have not missed their cue to take their shirts off...though I admit it could be snowing and it would still be the same.[LNB]15.54: So what are Newcastle playing for? Sunderland have already shown how quick you can slide down the table after a bad run, and Alan Pardew will want to pick up a win that will take his side to 42 points and likely keep them up at the end of the season.[LNB]How you can still be talking about relegation when a side is ninth in April is madness, but it's just that close in the basement area of the table.[LNB]15.51: All this talk about Villa getting relegated to me is bonkers. Not because it's unrealistic but because they should be nowhere near the bottom three.[LNB]Having said that a win today takes them up to 14th and just two points off the top 10. They have been inconsistent but Villa should comfortably have enough to get them over the line...surely.[LNB] Despair: Damien Duff (right) looks on after his own goal at Villa Park in 2009 sent Newcastle down[LNB]15.47: Some big recent history between these two sides. Only last August Newcastle thumped Villa 6-0 at St James' Park. While back in 2009, the last league meeting between these two sides in the west Midlands ended with Newcastle getting relegated from the Premier League.[LNB]15.44: Villa with a fillip as they come into this game following Blackpool's defeat. But sitting two points off the relegation zone tells you all you need to know about their season.[LNB]They have been capable of pulling off some good results, but for every away point at Chelsea, there is a home defeat to Wolves (the league's worst side away from home.)[LNB]Who knows what mood Villa will be in when they take to the pitch?[LNB]15.41: Aston Villa skipper Stiliyan Petrov is restored to the starting line-up for the home Barclays Premier League clash with Newcastle at Villa Park.[LNB]The Bulgaria international, who recently won his 100th cap for his country, replaces Nigel Reo-Coker.It is the only change from the side which held Everton to a 2-2 draw at Goodison Park last weekend.Newcastle boss Alan Pardew makes three changes - two enforced - from the line-up which defeated Wolves 4-1.[LNB]Skipper Kevin Nolan is suspended while Shola Ameobi is ruled out with an ankle injury.Nile Ranger, Steve Taylor and Jose Enrique come into the side with the latter replacing Shane Ferguson.[LNB]15.38: From Villa Park:[LNB]Aston Villa v NewcastleAston Villa: Friedel, Walker, Dunne, Collins, Luke Young, Downing, Petrov, Makoun, Ashley Young, Agbonlahor, Bent. Subs: Marshall, Pires, Albrighton, Heskey, Reo-Coker, Clark, Cuellar.Newcastle: Harper, Simpson, Steven Taylor, Williamson, Jose Enrique, Barton, Guthrie, Coloccini, Gutierrez, Ranger, Lovenkrands. Subs: Krul, Ryan Taylor, Ferguson, Donaldson, Tavernier, Richardson, Kuqi.Referee: Stuart Attwell (Warwickshire)[LNB]15.35: All action and goals at Blackpool earlier today. And with a struggling home side, leaky defences and a ?24million striker on show at Villa Park - Aston Villa v Newcastle should prove to be a fitting finale to the weekend. Team news coming up.[LNB] Key man: Darren Bent (left) has scored five goals for Aston Villa since arriving in January[LNB] Pardew backs Barton to do talking on the pitch after naming midfielder captainVilla boss Houllier eyes Wolves winger Jarvis as ?8m replacement for YoungAll the latest Aston Villa news, features and opinionAll the latest Newcastle news, features and opinion[LNB] Explore more:People: Gerard Houllier, Kevin Nolan, Ashley Young, Luke Young, Ryan Taylor, Stiliyan Petrov, Steven Taylor, Joey Barton, Gabriel Agbonlahor, Stewart Downing, Danny Simpson, Richard Dunne, Carlos Cuellar, Robert Pires Places: Newcastle, Bulgaria
