Newcastle United 6 Aston Villa 0

23 August 2010 09:30
United 6 Aston Villa 0[LNB] FIFTEEN months after Aston Villa inflicted the defeat on Newcastle United that condemned them to life outside the Premier League, it was fitting that the Magpies gained revenge by marking a return of top-flight football to St James' Park with an absolute bang.[LNB] Not since September 1999 has the Gallowgate watched their heroes hammer in six goals without reply, as Andy Carroll celebrated his first home appearance in the famous No 9 shirt by delivering an Alan Shearer-type display with a deadly hat-trick.[LNB] Newcastle might not have managed to better the eight goals which Sir Bobby Robson's side hit against Sheffield Wednesday 11 years ago, but they brushed Europa League contenders Aston Villa aside with complete ease.[LNB] From the moment Joey Barton crashed a superlative, swirling drive from 20 yards beyond Villa goalkeeper Brad Friedel inside 13 minutes, the Magpies never looked back.[LNB] While the Villans, managerless following the departure of Martin O'Neill, were woeful, Chris Hughton's players were sensational.[LNB] Barton might have raised a few eyebrows with his celebration, raising his hand to the sky while holding the moustache that has already been shaved off following victory, but in football terms it was merely the catalyst for a stunning afternoon.[LNB] Captain Kevin Nolan headed in the second and fifth, while Carroll's double either side of half-time laid the foundations for his clinical third in the dying seconds to wrap things up.[LNB] It was a goal that brought the five-year wait for a Premier League hat-trick from a Newcastle player to an end, with supporters expecting much, much more from a young striker capable of surpassing anything Michael Owen, the last man to hit a triple, achieved during his time on Tyneside.[LNB] Whether he can go on to enjoy the special career for his hometown club which the onlooking Shearer enjoyed remains a tall order.[LNB] The legendary No 9, however, does appear to have the confidence in Carroll, when the beaming former England international pointed to the betting slip he was holding once Carroll completed the rout.[LNB] Kevin MacDonald might have led Villa to their biggest opening day win in 17 years against West Ham eight days earlier, but the caretaker boss simply had no answer to a rampant first half display from Newcastle which only continued after the break.[LNB] A week after Manchester United totally outplayed Hughton's men at Old Trafford, Newcastle looked well organised, comfortable and, most crucially, extremely dangerous.[LNB] There are still eight days remaining of the summer transfer window and Hughton intends to make further signings to a squad on the verge of adding Ivory Coast midfielder Chieck Tiote from FC Twente.[LNB] It remains a small squad, but on the evidence of yesterday's inspiring display it could be that the existing crop are being under-estimated; there are certainly worse teams in the Premier League and there could be more inferior teams than first thought.[LNB] That, though, should not mean survival is taken for granted and managing director Derek Llambias insisted in his first pre-match programme notes of the season that adding to the squad remains a priority.[LNB] We've been working hard this summer to bring in the type of players required to make sure we're still a Premier League team this time next year, said Llambias.[LNB] We're still working away behind the scenes to give ourselves the best chance of competing in the top flight. We strongly believe that the Premier League is where Newcastle United belong and it is our aim to make sure it stays that way.[LNB] One win and one defeat, albeit at Manchester United, is hardly the worst way to start either, particularly when the victory is secured in such awesome fashion.[LNB] It could quite easily have been so different.[LNB] When Stilyan Petrov's clever pass sent Ashley Young through, Steve Harper's misjudged dive to the forward's feet conceded a penalty even if there seemed minimal contact.[LNB] But John Carew, the towering Norwegian striker, struck his penalty high over the crossbar and up into the upper reaches of the Gallowgate when Newcastle fans must have feared the worst.[LNB] And four minutes later Carew was made to pay.[LNB] A Newcastle ball in to the box was half cleared and found its way to Barton, lurking on the edge of the area. He took a touch before unleashing a terrific right-foot drive that changed direction before finding the roof of Friedel's net.[LNB] Villa occasionally showed nice touches, but on the whole a solitary shot on target was a fair reflection of the afternoon's events, and Newcastle hit their second just after the half-hour.[LNB] Jonas Gutierrez's delivery to the back post was nodded down by Carroll, Friedel thwarted Nolan's first header before the Newcastle captain stooped to nod the rebound beyond the American goalkeeper.[LNB] Newcastle did not have to wait too long for a third.[LNB] Barton's corner was met by Mike Williamson and, after Richard Dunne made a complete mess of his clearance, Carroll was on hand to strike low in to the Villa net.[LNB] Friedel did get down low to deny Wayne Routledge just after the hour but he could do nothing to prevent Carroll adding his second.[LNB] Villa had done well to clear their lines from a corner, but then James Perch successfully headed the ball back in to the danger area.[LNB] Williamson, required more in the final third than in defence yesterday, juggled the ball over the defence and Carroll latched on, stretched his leg and directed a precise volley beyond Friedel.[LNB] A deflated Villa, who will no doubt step up their search for O'Neill's replacement now, had further misery to come. Three minutes from time Nolan forced the ball over the line after Shola Ameobi's header was blocked at the back post, paving the way for the perfect finale.[LNB] Spanish substitute Xisco rolled a lovely pass through the Villa defence for Carroll to run on to.[LNB] The local hero, in front of the Gallowgate supporters who sang his name to the famous tune they created for Andy Cole, took a touch before sidefooting in to Friedel's bottom right corner.[LNB] Shearer smiled, the Newcastle bench celebrated, and Carroll revelled in the satisfaction of scoring a hat-trick with the world-famous No 9 on his back.[LNB] Match facts Goals:[LNB] 1-0: Barton (13, took a touch before unleashing unstoppable right foot drive high beyond Friedel)[LNB] 2-0: Nolan (32, nodded beyond Friedel after initially being denied with his first header)[LNB] 3-0: Carroll (34, struck low beyond Friedel after meeting Williamson's knock down instinctively)[LNB] 4-0: Carroll (67, sweetly struck stretched volley after Williamson's good work)[LNB] 5-0: Nolan (87, capitalised on an opening from close range after Ameobi had been denied)[LNB] 6-0: Carroll (90, casually strolled behind the Villa defence and slotted his hat-trick goal beyond Friedel[LNB] Bookings: Barton (19, foul); Perch (39, foul); Smith (65, foul); Reo-Coker (74, foul)[LNB] Attendance: 43,546[LNB] Referee: Martin Atkinson (Leeds) - angered supporters by awarding an early penalty, but was efficient thereafter. 6[LNB] Entertainment: NEWCASTLE UNITED (4-5-1):[LNB] 6 Harper: Might have conceded an early penalty, but was never seriously tested after that[LNB] 7 Perch: Solid from start to finish, including a stunning block to deny Downing[LNB] 8 Williamson: Sound defensively and also created two goals for Carroll[LNB] 7 Coloccini: Not as composed as the rest of the defence, but he didn't really need to be[LNB] 8 Enrique: Made Albrighton look like a youth team player and pushed forward well[LNB] 7 Routledge: His constant probing with his pace was a source of menace for Villa[LNB] 8 Barton: Strong in the tackle, as expected, plus delivered a gem from distance to open the scoring[LNB] 7 Smith: Sat deep to break things up and he successfully achieved his goals[LNB] 8 Nolan: Another two goals to add to his tally, providing the bursts from midfield required to helpd Carroll;[LNB] 7 Gutierrez: Without really threatening Friedel's goal, the South American was a constant threat to Luke Young[LNB] 10 CARROLL: A perfect afternoon for the new Newcastle No 9[LNB] Subs:[LNB] Taylor (for Routledge 76)[LNB] Ameobi (for Smith 76)[LNB] Xisco (for Gutierrez 81)[LNB] (not used): Lovenkrands, Krul (gk), Vuckic, Tavernier.[LNB] ASTON VILLA (4-2-3-1): Friedel 3; L Young 4, Dunne 4, Clark 3 (Beye 89), Warnock 4; Ireland 5, PETROV 6; Albrighton 3 (Heskey 57, 5), A Young 6, Downing 5; Carew 4 (Reo-Coker 65, 4). Subs (not used): Delfouenso, Guzan (gk), Lichaj, Bannan.[LNB] MAN OF THE MATCH[LNB] ANDY Carroll a classy, clinical performance from Newcastle's latest top-flight, home-grown striker.[LNB]

Source: Northern_Echo