We’ve had better football teams over the years, but there is much to admire about this team. We struggled in the 1st half. Imho, this was once again largely down to our apparent inability to deal with the opposition playing an extra man in midfield.

Perch and Guthrie tended to move towards the same man, and where frequently passed around, leaving large gaps in front of the back four.

I had confidence Alan Pardew would sort this out at Half-Time, and he appeared to do so simply by telling Perch to stop chasing around the pitch and hold his position in front of the back four.

Villa created too many half chances for comfort, and Krul was kept fairly busy, dealing with pretty well everything thrown at him superbly. As usual, Simpson was awful, including on their goal when he did not get tight enough to Insomnia.

Santon was again decent going forward, and rather suspect defensively. He and Jonas are forming a useful partnership, but being right-footed they both slow progress by constantly needing to bring the ball onto the right foot.

Colo was less effective than normal, seemed rather hesitant, and made a number of unusual errors.

We were much brighter in the 2nd half with Obertan occasionally threatening down the right, Jonas working incredibly hard up and down the left, Guthrie working his nuts off in the provider role, and Cisse and Ba’s movement causing Villa problems. What a joy to have two mobile forwards!

After a tough night on Wednesday, we tired towards the end and let them come on to us; however, we saw it out. It would have been criminal if Cisse had been denied the winner after that phenomenal strike and a hugely encouraging debut.

Aston Villa played two former Newcastle players Nzogbia and Shay Given and the only player that has given trouble for the Magpies was Shay Given who makes at least three excellent saves from Cabaye’s shot.

I’m especially spotted another great appearance from our new signing Yohan Cabaye, who looks like answering some critics from the Toon Army for his appearance against QPR. He’s commanding the Toon midfield very well, side by side with Cheick Tiotte, who has some improvements too.

Although we start the game as the much better side and creating some half-chances but it was the home side who took the lead first in the first-half through their dangerous player Agbonlahor, who took his chance very well using a slight error from our skipper Coloccini.

The ball was played long from the outside six yard box when Colo was spotted to stands a little bit too near Agbonlahor, so he has very little space to cover the coming ball into his area, and when the Villan’s striker turned away fromColoccini, he took the ball easily pass the helpless Krul.

At the start of the second half, we gave them too much spaces and Agbonlahor was afforded another chance to double his goal when he turn and flash his shot inches wide of Krul’s post.

For the next 20 minutes, the homeside was a slight better but after that it was all about Newcastle again to dominate and play some impressive football in search for the eaqualising goal. And when the ball was played from our right wing through Obertan and Danny Simpson, another Cabaye’s wonderful shot against Given’s top bar from the edge of the penalty area.

Villa defenders managed to clear the bounces ball, to as far as Tiote who pumped the ball back again for Best to head the ball. But his first attempt on goal was blocked well by Given, before Best verocious second attempt slash the rebound ball into Given’s net. 1-1 and happy early 25th birthday to you on Monday!

The equaliser certainly lifted the Lads spirit and began to search for the first away three points. That gives a little room for the homeside who only can make counter attack, and almost succeeded when Steven Taylor slipped while attempting a clearance, and give a large space for Darren Bent to lobbed the ball into an empty net, with Krull was once again has left his post.

And just as what he did last game against QPR, Taylor running back to clear the ball brilliantly on the slide to save Newcastle for the second time in two games. The rests of the game was all for us, and we should have won it through our most lively player today, Cabaye with only Given’s on form and outstanding save who denied our glory.

Aston Villa 1 (Agbonlahor 13)
Newcastle United 1 (Best 57)

Aston Villa (4-4-2): Shay Given; Alan Hutton, James Collins, Richard Dunne, Stephen Warnock; Barry Bannan (Marc Albrighton 68), Stiliyan Petrov (Stephen Ireland 68), Fabian Delph, Charles N’Zogbia; Gabriel Agbonlahor, Darren Bent (Nathan Delfouneso 86)

Subs not used: Brad Guzan, Chris Herd, Shane Lowry, Gary Gardner

Newcastle United (4-4-2): Tim Krul; Danny Simpson, Steven Taylor, Fabricio Coloccini (c), Ryan Taylor; Gabriel Obertan, Yohan Cabaye, Cheik Tiote, Jonas Gutierrez (Sammy Ameobi 85); Leon Best (Shola Ameobi 68), Demba Ba (Sylvain Marveaux 80)

Subs not used: Rob Elliot, James Perch, Danny Guthrie, Peter Lovenkrands

Referee: Neil Swarbrick (Lancashire)
Attendance: 34,248

Ball Possession
Aston Villa 46%
Newcastle 54%

Attempts on target
Aston Villa 3
Newcastle 13

Attempts off target
Aston Villa 8
Newcastle 8

Corners
Aston Villa 4
Newcastle 9

Fouls
Aston Villa 13
Newcastle 10

I actually got the impression of a team that had perhaps spent a little too much time planning for what the opposition might do, and then finding it difficult to get their own game going.

Second half was much better, and we served up a very good team performance. We closed them down quicker, defended a little higher up the pitch and moved the ball quicker.

The passing and movement were vastly better, and eventually, with confidence flooding back, we established almost total control in midfield – the very first time I’ve been able to say that all season.

Once again Shola had an excellent game, in fact I thought he was a bit of a revelation tonight. Winning lots of ball in the air, holding it up intelligently and using it competently on the deck. While taking a battering without any protection from the ever hapless Steve Bennett, he looked a very decent CF tonight. Martins buzzed around, unsettling their defence and took both his goals well.

Nicky Butt had another excellent game. He sat a little deeper in the 2nd half – his best role imho – and screened the back 4 to very good effect.

Another performance that affords some hope that we can still survive the current corporate shambles. Another three valuable points, and hopefully the beginning of a little run.

But today everyone is having their performance back, and hope JFK can keep the growing-up confidence from the Lads for good. Our “Houdini” has done his magic once again, and everyone seems to be happier than before.

Huge credits given to our two goals scorer Obafemi Martins who really showing what he can do when he’s fit. After scoring against WBA last week, he does it again twice today and made it three goals in the last two games.

“He’s a big player, there’s no doubt about that,” said first-team coach Chris Hughton, quoted from NUFC official site. “The quality he has, everybody is aware of. The pace that he has means he is able to stretch players and he can score different types of goals.”

And as the Villa boss said that Joe Kinnear has instilled a “new-found spirit” in the Newcastle United dressing room, Joe was even left speechless after his Newcastle’s side stirring a 2-0 win over Aston Villa today.

He was yelled so much during the match to inspired the Lads to the second vital victory in a very sturdy performance by Newcastle, that make him lost his voice to speak to the Press after the game. Fulham next everyone?

TEAMS
Newcastle United:
Shay Given, Habib Beye, Jose Enrique, Steven Taylor, Fabricio Coloccini, Nicky Butt (c), Joey Barton, Jonas Gutierrez, Damien Duff, Oba Martins (Claudio Cacapa – 87), Shola Ameobi (Michael Owen – 90)
Subs: Steve Harper, Danny Guthrie, Sebastien Bassong, Charles N’Zogbia, Geremi

Aston Villa:
Brad Friedel, Luke Young, Carlos Cuellar, Martin Laursen, Nicky Shorey (Sidwell – 71), Nigel Reo-Coker (Harewood – 84), Gareth Barry, John Carew, Gabriel Agbonlahor, James Milner, Ashley Young
Subs: Curtis Davies, Zat Knight, Moustapha Salifou, Bradley Guzan, Craig Gardner

Referee: Steve Bennett
Attendance: 44, 567

More of the club statement mentioning about how He is a valued member of the squad and it is only a year ago that he signed an improved long-term contract. For me that is clearly shows us who is the real James Milner is.

Soon after reading the club statement, there were plenty of arguments among the Toon Army that something is fishy about his transfer request. Some said that Keegan should be telling him the “big ship about to sail, do you want to be on it?” story, while not less of them are questioning about how many times he looked good against a strong team, and if we can get £10 million from selling him out, we should take it.

As on further of the club statement, Newcastle have not yet to receive an offer for James that has matched our valuation of him, while someone said to have seen a Villa delegation last night at Ricoh Arena.

So, until the club receive any official transfer offer for Milner’s service, he is still a Toon players, and we pay his wages so he must do his job. And if he really want to leave, he better double his motivation by performing well against Arsenal this weekend, and if he doesn’t, none will put their money on him and sign him away from SJP.