Aston Villa moved five points clear of the Premier League’s relegation zone with a much-needed 1-0 win over Newcastle United.
It was the visitors who started the brighter as Joey Barton headed over before Nile Ranger elected to shoot when team-mate Peter Lovenkrands was well-placed to challenge Brad Friedel in the Villa goal.
And it was against the run of play that Villa snatched the game’s only goal when James Collins headed a Ashley Young free-kick beyond Steve Harper after Barton had fouled Young on the left-hand side.
Stewart Downing fired over the crossbar before Darren Bent had a ‘goal’ ruled out for offside as the hosts tried to make sure of the points, and Gabriel Agbonlahor was then denied by Harper as the Magpies held on.
And they almost snatched an equaliser but Lovenkrands twice failed to trouble Friedel and Villa secured some measure of revenge for the 6-0 hammering they suffered at St James’ Park earlier in the season.