A double strike from Craig Bellamy and a wonderful volley from Alan Shearer ensured Newcastle captured all three points against Premiership leaders Aston Villa at St James' Park this afternoon. Although Villa remain top of the table, they are likely to be overtaken tomorrow as top guns Leeds, Arsenal, Liverpool and champions Manchester United are all in action.
Newcastle deserved their victory this afternoon at what is not a happy hunting ground for John Gregory's team. Bellamy opened the scoring in the 37th minute to give the Magpies the advantage at the interval and just four minutes after the re-start, former England star Alan Shearer, making his 400th league appearance, scored a beauty to extend the Magpies lead. However, it was Bellamy who scored the show when, with just eight minutes remaining, the Welsh international wrapped up proceedings with his second of the afternoon.
Newcastle completely dominated this match from the start and despite a few self-inflicted scares in their own defence, the main action took place at the other end of the park. Villa rarely troubled Shay Given in the Newcastle goal but the Irishman did pull off one spectacular save from Hassan Kachloul. Villa keeper Peter Schmeichel kept his team in the match when Newcastle should have killed it off long before the final whistle but in the end, the Magpies deserved every inch of their victory.
Although all the fuss centred around Alan Shearer before this match got underway, it was Bellamy who stole his thunder. Newcastle had created several brilliant chances before they finally broke the deadlock. A precise chip from Robbie Elliott found Bellamy in the box and his powerful half-volley left Schmeichel with no chance. The former United keeper found himself picking the ball out of the back net for a second time not long after the re-start. A cross from Rob Lee fell to Shearer on the right of the penalty area and despite a tight angle he fired a stunning side-footed volley into the top corner.
United threatened to tear Villa apart by this stage and Gregory knew he had to act fast to prevent a rout. Off came Juan Pablo Angel and Lee Hendrie with Dion Dublin and Ian Taylor coming on in their place. Although this tactic marked an obvious change in Villa's play as the became more competitive and focussed, for all their pressure, they never really tested Given and as they became exposed with their forays into the Newcastle area, the home side capitalised to make it 3-0 eight minutes from time. Bellamy had the final say when he ran onto a defence-splitting pass from Lee and slotted the ball between Schmeichel's legs.
Filed by Amanda Fennelly
