Villa win a corner which Martin Laursen cannot get to and it is cleared only for Steve Sidwell to lash one well wide of the goal.

We are in the three minutes of time added on as Newcastle are the more likely to get on the scoresheet before full time.

Newcastle appear happy to just try and run the clock down now with Michael Owen not required tonight.

It looks game over now and Newcastle will move up six places courtesy of a victory here as we approach the final five minutes.

Ashley Young tries to send away Gabriel Agbonlahor but Fabricio Coloccini is on hand to shadow the ball out for a throw as Villa are really struggling to find a break through.

Newcastle have done well since going in front as Villa have yet to really test Shay Given in this second half.

A drop ball gets us back up and running with Shola Ameobi okay to continue after some treatment.

Martin Laursen gets his own back with an arm in the face of Shola Ameobi who goes down injured but the referee did not see that one and the Villa man escapes a yellow card.

Gabriel Agbonlahor does very well to get in a cross from the right but Gareth Barry cannot get in a turn and shot inside the area.

Another corner for Newcastle is played in by Damien Duff which John Carew and Martin Laursen cannot clear well and Nicky Butt smacks his volley high and wide.

Obafemi Martins goes on a crazy run to the edge of the Villa area before going down but no free kick this time for Newcastle.

Nicky Butt thumps in a great effort but his free kick hits the outside of the Villa upright. So close to making it 2-0 and virtually killing the game off.

Luke Young fouls Damien Duff in a great spot for a Newcastle free kick central to the Villa goal.

The Newcastle fans are in full voice now as Villa look stunned by going a goal down.

Well I did expect goals although it has turned up a lot later than I anticipated. It came out of the blue for Newcastle so it will be interesting to see how Villa react?

The free kick comes to nothing but a cross back into the box sees Shola Ameobi climb high but he cannot get any power on the header under pressure from Nicky Shorey.

Fabricio Coloccini concedes another corner as he makes a good tackle on Gabriel Agbonlahor. Gareth Barry takes it this time but Newcastle manage to clear their lines.

Jose Sanchez Enrique concedes a corner at the other end from an Ashley Young cross. James Milner plays it in but Nicky Butt volleys it away to safety.

Ashley Young is ok to carry on so the match is up and running once again as Martin Laursen concedes a harsh looking free kick for a foul on Shola Ameobi. It comes to nothing though as Villa clear.

Ashley Young picks up a head injury after clashing with Jonas Gutierrez and needs a bit of treatment. Newcastle continued their attack but wasted a chance to take advantage of being up against ten men before the game was stopped.

Villa have started the brighter of the two sides in the early moments of this second half here. However no real scoring chances just yet.

Habib Beye puts in a good challenge to prevent Gabriel Agbonlahor getting on the end of a low cross towards the back post. The corner is put in but James Milner cannot get over the ball and knocks it behind.

Fabricio Coloccini is forced to get back and head the ball back to Shay Given as Gabriel Agbonlahor chases a long ball up the field.

The play is drifting towards the half time break here as Villa are in possession butfailing to break into the final third.

A great flowing move by Newcastle with Habib Beye whipping in a first time cross from the left but fellow defender Steven Taylor just cannot reach it with his outstretched leg.

Having suggested early on there would be goals here it is not panning out that way. Perhaps I have jinxed the match?

Ashley Young is allowed to run at the Newcastle goal and gets a shot in which is over the top. But that is dangerous play by the hosts.

Villa break and Ashley Young turns Habib Beye before hitting a low close range drive at goal but Shay Given does well to make the save.

It's all very nice attacking play from Newcastle but they just cannot seem to find the elusive killer touch in the final third.

Over half an hour gone and while Newcastle have had more forays forward it is Villa who should be in front after that Gabriel Agbonlahor miss.

Newcastle break quickly after a Villa attack but Obafemi Martins twists and turns in the area and smashes a left foot drive wide of the upright.

Another free kick from the right side of the pitch with Gareth Barry playing it in left-footed but it's too high for Martin Laursen who heads it out for a goal kick.

Obafemi Martins almost gets clean through on the Villa goal but he is rightly flagged offside so it's a free kick to Villa.

Ashley Young's ball in from the left finds it's way to James Milner but his effort at goal is high and not very handsome.

No goals yet but it has been entertaining stuff so far as both sides are getting a bit niggly now with free kicks conceded all over the park.

Newcastle break forward now and Villa can only clear a Damien Duff cross to just outside the area and Joey Barton's fierce drive is well held by Brad Friedel.

A shocking miss here by Gabriel Agbonlahor who somehow misses the ball in front of an open goal from James Milner's right wing cross into the area.

Gabriel Agbonlahor tries to break through on the end of a James Milner pass but Fabricio Coloccini gets over to block his progress.

Villa win a dangerous free kick out on the right after Joey Barton and Gabriel Agbonlahor tangled with each other. It's harsh on the Newcastle man. Gareth Barry plays it in but the kick is headed clear.

Ashley Young tries to put Habib Beye under pressure down the left but the Newcastle man does well to clear. At the other end Damien Duff goes down in the area but it is more an accidental clipping of his legs and definitely no penalty.

Newcastle are the more attacking of the two sides but must be wary of the Villa attack which can break quickly and in numbers.

A lively opening to the game with both sides still looking to get forward when possible with Villa already hitting the woodwork.

Newcastle break now and Obafemi Martins turns Carlos Cuellar before lashing a first time effort just over the Villa crossbar.

Villa win a corner which is played in from the right by Gareth Barry and Martin Laursen gets up to send a downward header off the outside of the post.

A first corner here for Newcastle as Obafemi Martins shot is deflected out. Damien Duff takes it but Martin Laursen climbs high to head clear.

Newcastle are pressing again but Jonas Gutierrez is crowded out inside the Villa area and they clear the danger.

Jose Sanchez Enrique puts in a diagnol cross to the back post but it is just too high for Shola Ameobi who can't head the ball into the centre of the box.

I don't wish to put the mockers on this game but the way these two sides have come flying out of the traps I would be very surprised if there are no goals tonight.

Jose Sanchez Enrique gets up well to block former player James Milner's charge into the area in an effort to get on the end of a left wing cross in a lively opening few seconds.