Premier League - Martins lifts Newcastle

Eurosport - Tue, 04 Nov 10:00:00 2008

Obafemi Martins scored the goals as Newcastle lifted themselves out of the relegation zone with a 2-0 home victory over high-flying Aston Villa.

FOOTBALL; Obafemi Martins, Newcastle, Nov 2008 - 0

Martins scored two second-half goals as Newcastle became the third side in as many days to win from the bottom of the Premier League table, following the achievements of Tottenham and Bolton.

Aston Villa had much the better of the first half but could not get going after the break as they missed the opportunity to break into the top three.

Villa certainly had the two best chances of a first half that started brightly but became scrappy and full of stoppages as it went on.

By the time Newcastle's best moment came when centre-back Steven Taylor was just inches away from turning home an inviting cross from the right from Habib Beye four minutes before the break, Villa had already hit the post and spurned two fine chances.

First, Villa defender Martin Laursen flicked the outside of the post with a towering header from a corner to come within inches of his fifth goal of the campaign, before an unmarked Gabby Agbonlahor completely mis-cued eight yards out after James Milner rolled the ball across to him.

Ashley Young then brought a 35th-minute save out of Shay Given - making his 450th appearances for the club - when he beat his man and earned some space 10 yards out with a body swerve before driving straight at the face of the Toon keeper.

Villa - out after the break a good couple of minutes earlier than the home side - began the second half like a side desperate to break the deadlock, but it was Newcastle who brought the match to life.

Joey Barton, lucky to escape a first-half booking when he petulantly flicked out a hand into the face of Agbonlahor in an off-the-ball incident, was shown a yellow card for a studs-up challenge in midfield as the game threatened to boil over.

And just before the hour, the home side had the lead when Martins held up Barton's pass on the edge of the box and, afforded some space to turn by Laursen, moved the ball onto his left foot before firing a low shot inside the near post from 20 yards, just out of the reach of diving Villa keeper Brad Freidel.

The goal gave the home side and their fans the confidence and belief to push for a game-clinching second, which almost came just seven minutes later when Nicky Butt's 25-yard free-kick beat Freidel but crashed against the post.

Villa boss Martin O'Neill used the break in play to replace Nicky Shorey with midfielder Steve Sidwell, moving Nigel Reo-Coker to makeshift right-back - but the move backfired with eight minutes remaining.

Jonas Gutiérrez surged into the box from the left wing, easily rounding Reo-Coker in the process, before firing the ball across the face of goal for Martins to thump it into the net from a yard out and secure a hugely-important victory for his side.

Alex Sharratt / Eurosport

Comment 58 - 77 of 77

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  1. Oba goal as he is call in Naija. Was not disappointing. Needs more of such connecting passes to keep Newcastle flying.

    From ikejay1000, on Tue 11 Nov 8:30AM

  2. Get rid of Barton.He is more trouble than he is worth.Leopards do not change their spots.From PEZ

    From ronald.jeacock@..., on Thu 6 Nov 11:16PM

  3. hansen u mackem mug didnt we get a draw at old trafford ur are a joke u @#$%!!!!!!!!!nufc 4 life!!!

    From paddy, on Tue 4 Nov 8:42PM

  4. ian mack does that stand for mackem?u obviously one of the part time fans sitting in your armchair while the REAL fans support the lads no matter what!!!! joe starting to turn things around for us we dont need fans like u at sjp anyway,and yes we beat a tired side but thats coz they were ran ragged in second half and oneil should make sure his side are prepared to fight not just turn up!villa looked devoid of ideas and could'nt cope once they fell behind. well done lads lots of fight and passion and flair in the last half hour!! nufc 4 life !!

    From paddy, on Tue 4 Nov 8:09PM

  5. i agree with comment 57,only that Martins need to be more relaxed and learn to take his chances. he's 1 of the world best.

    From Osunkunle, on Tue 4 Nov 12:26PM

  6. sorry to the anal people n this board obviously meant strike

    From guinnessman, on Tue 4 Nov 11:15AM

  7. attempting to strie a player (even a slap) is a red card offence its intent not anythin else
    see adebayor slap

    From guinnessman, on Tue 4 Nov 11:14AM

  8. What a result....Villa tired or not were outplayed last night. There was 5 or 6 players on the toon team last who could have got man of the match. Martins...always a threat. Guttierez back to his best. Collocini solid as ever. Joey, wouldn't even think he'd been away and so I could continue. Joe Kinnear for NUFC job. What a difference a month makes. Keep it up toon the titanic is rising!

    From paws4athought, on Tue 4 Nov 10:46AM

  9. any big black sexy beauties and are toon fans be nice to chew the toon fat paul sexy paul

    From paul.connor15@..., on Tue 4 Nov 10:09AM

  10. well done toon

    From sid, on Tue 4 Nov 9:47AM

  11. Regarding the incident with Joey Barton and Agbanhalor. Having watched it again if agbanhalor had thrown Joey like he did in Judo he would have won the contest!!
    How the referee awarded a free kick to villa defies logic. Surprised Agbanhalor did not go down like a sack of potatoes following joey,s miniscule reaction, he must have realised that he could have got Joey sent off. Quite a few bad decisions by the Referee again throughout.

    From Fedupwithpolitics, on Tue 4 Nov 9:43AM

  12. I'm also a big black sexy beauty, but more importantly, I'm a Newcastle United supporter. I watched the match in the pub last night and got so hammered I lost my cash card. Whehehey!!!

    From Phil, on Tue 4 Nov 9:42AM

  13. Good outing guys, up up magpies. hope rising! keep it up. and Martins ''thumbs up''u are great.
    -giddy

    From Giddy (2wice as 9ce), on Tue 4 Nov 9:20AM

  14. dont get to excited they beat a tired aston villa team , not a fresh one , that is all

    From PAUL, on Tue 4 Nov 9:07AM

  15. No Wayne it doesn't really matter. Being up the league matters with enough points to feel comfortable until the "mess" is sorted out. & yes, I am from the Toon.

    From ian mack, on Tue 4 Nov 8:58AM

  16. Interesting fact kinnear has a higher points per game ratio than kev in his last spell?

    From R G, on Tue 4 Nov 8:57AM

  17. Well what do you know Newcastle back above the mackems.Sounded like a lot of supporters missed s good game last night. Maybe someone wil step in and buy out the "cockney mafia" now and we can move on from the sorry mess created by Wise and his cronies.Any truth in the rumour that Owen broke down in the light warm up another sick note on the way?

    From robertternent, on Tue 4 Nov 8:47AM

  18. good one from nufc, they really show character with great team spirit. above all, good one from matins am happy for him scoring 2goals against good team like aston villa.
    welldon guys.

    From adebiyi, on Tue 4 Nov 8:43AM

  19. Leave Barton alone, for god's sake it was nothing last night and if it was anyone else it wouldn't even make the sports pages!! Get over it, Agbonlahor deserved more than he got for his foul on Barton that was given the other way just seconds before!! Good victory Newcastle, if only they can find a solid run of wins the whole table will change!

    From Matt S, on Tue 4 Nov 8:39AM

  20. well done to newcastle maybe man.united will take over.i like that .man,u is fan.

    From Ruben, on Tue 4 Nov 8:04AM
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