LONDON (Reuters) - John Carew scored a second-half hat-trick as Aston Villa came from a goal down to beat Newcastle United 4-1 in a lunchtime kickoff at Villa Park on Saturday.

Newcastle, looking for a first Premier League victory since before Christmas and a first since Kevin Keegan returned as manager last month, fell to pieces in the second half after Michael Owen had given them an interval lead.

Wilfred Bouma's deflected shot, his first goal for Villa, made it 1-1 and by the 51st minute the home side were in front when Carew glanced in Ashley Young's corner.

The Norwegian striker punished more woeful Newcastle defending after 72 minutes to nod in his second from Nicky Butt's panicky headed clearance and he completed his hat-trick with a powerful penalty after Stephen Carr's rash handball.

Newcastle's cause was hampered by keeper Shay Given limping off with a groin injury sustained trying to keep out Bouma's shot for the first Villa goal.

While Villa moved into fifth place and are chasing a Champions League spot, Newcastle appear in freefall and Keegan faces a big task to prevent them from being sucked down into the relegation battle.

"We played very well early on and did everything right, we built a platform," Keegan told the BBC. "Sadly halftime came and I'm baffled about what happened in the second half. Their first goal was a hammer blow.

"We got bullied at the back in the second half and that's what worries me. Some players fell short of what I would expect from a Newcastle player."

Later on Saturday, fourth-placed Everton were at home to Reading. Manchester United play Manchester City on Sunday when Chelsea take on Liverpool. Leaders Arsenal are in action on Monday against Blackburn Rovers.

(Reporting by Martyn Herman, editing by Rex Gowar)