Villa reverse confirms Toon relegation

Newcastle's 16-year spell in the Barclays Premier League came to an end as a Damien Duff own goal saw them relegated after a 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa. Duff deflected a 38th-minute shot from Villa's stand-in skipper Gareth Barry past his own 'keeper Steve Harper to seal Newcastle's fate. It meant that Magpies legend Alan Shearer had failed to work the miracle he was brought in to try and achieve with eight games remaining.