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Match Report
 
 

First Away Win For
Bloody Ages* And We
Keep Climbing...

                 Aston Villa                    0...     
 

                 Newcastle United           1       ........
                                      Ferguson '69
 
 
 
 
 

                                          Duncan Ferguson ended a week which began with him wondering
                                          whether his injury-hit career was under threat by heading the goal
                                          which earned Newcastle their first away Premiership success of the
                                          campaign. Ferguson went to see an orthopaedic surgeon to seek
                                          assurances that he would not have to quit after describing his first
                                          12 months at St James' Park as ''a nightmare''.

                                          But there was joy at last for the £8m capture from Everton, who
                                          had started only 10 Premiership matches in the past year, as
                                          Newcastle maintained their revival under Bobby Robson. Ferguson
                                          needed only eight minutes to make his presence felt in the role of
                                          super-sub as Newcastle extended their unbeaten league run to six
                                          games.

                                          In contrast, Villa are plunging headlong out of the battle for a UEFA
                                          Cup spot and towards the relegation zone. Chairman Doug Ellis
                                          re-affirmed his support in mid-week for Villa manager John Gregory
                                          amidst speculation that his 21-month reign was about to end. The
                                          Villa boss would have been desperately disappointed by the
                                          outcome and the stark statistics are that Villa's nine-game league
                                          run without a win has yielded just three points.

                                          Villa struggled to break down their resolute opponents who gained
                                          revenge for their 1-0 home defeat on the opening day of the
                                          season. Villa began in a more confident mood after the mid-week
                                          demolition of Southampton and were easily the sharper side in the
                                          first half although the end product was lacking.

                                          They suffered an early setback when England midfielder Lee Hendrie
                                          was stretchered off after being caught by a challenge from
                                          Newcastle striker Temuri Ketsbaia. The home side showed plenty of
                                          the kind of spirit and commitment that senior players such as Colin
                                          Calderwood and Ian Taylor insisted was evident throughout the
                                          squad.

                                          There was little in the way of goalmouth action in the opening
                                          stages but then Villa struck a mini purple patch. Alan Thompson,
                                          who had replaced Hendrie, had a powerful effort deflected over the
                                          bar and, when he took the resulting corner himself, Dion Dublin was
                                          only just too high with an arrow-like header. The best opportunity
                                          of the first half fell to Calderwood after a mis-hit shot from fellow
                                          defender Alan Wright dropped invitingly into his path inside the
                                          Newcastle area. But the veteran Scotland international was unable
                                          to take advantage of the situation and he could only succeed in
                                          stabbing his shot wide of the post.

                                          Newcastle had only one sniff of the Villa goal when Alan Shearer
                                          combined with Nolberto Solano whose dangerous, low centre flew
                                          across the face of the goal with no-one on hand to apply the
                                          finishing touch. But Villa were soon back on the offensive and Steve
                                          Harper needed two attempts to beat out a fierce, rising effort from
                                          Mark Delaney who had been a late replacement for hamstring victim
                                          Steve Watson.

                                          Delaney had been booked earlier and then referee Mike Riley
                                          produced a spate of yellow cards just before the interval with
                                          George Boateng, Alessandro Pistone and Gary Speed all cautioned.
                                          Thompson joined the quartet in the book two minutes into the
                                          second half which started with Newcastle showing more inclination
                                          to venture forward.

                                          Villa suffered another injury blow when Dion Dublin limped out of the
                                          action to be replaced by Benito Carbone. But then came Robson's
                                          inspired 58th-minute substitution - and within eight minutes
                                          Ferguson had broken the deadlock.

                                          Ketsbaia played the kind of curling centre into the area which is
                                          meat and drink to Ferguson and he launched himself in front of
                                          Calderwood to send a powerful header wide of James. Ferguson
                                          could hardly contain his joy as he leapt over the advertising
                                          hoardings to celebrate with the Toon Army - and after his nightmare
                                          time who could blame him?

                                          Villa tried to retaliate and Boateng was only just too high with a
                                          20-yard effort with Harper off his line. Gregory brought on Paul
                                          Merson in the 'hole' role to support Carbone and Joachim. Carbone
                                          nearly earned his side a life-line five minutes from time when his
                                          powerful header from a Wright cross looked destined for the corner
                                          of the net until Harper produced a superb save to turn his effort
                                          around the post.