Premier League - Newcastle United are relegated

Eurosport - Mon, 25 May 07:53:00 2009

Newcastle United were relegated from the Premier League after a 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa.

Newcastle manager Alan Shearer during his team's season-ending clash against Aston Villa - 0

The crucial goal came after 38 minutes when a corner fell to Gareth Barry whose 25-yard drive was going well wide but took a wicked deflection off Damien Duff and beat a stranded Steve Harper.

With Hull losing at home to Manchester United, a single goal would have been enough to extend the Magpies' 16-year top flight stay but they departed with a whimper, failing to muster a single effort on target in the second-half.

After swapping television punditry for the Newcastle manager's job, Alan Shearer won just one of eight matches and, having won only seven of their 38 league games, the Toon Army will be watching Championship football next season.

Newcastle had won just twice on their travels and started nervously. Gabriel Agbonlahor climbed above Fabricio Coloccini to meet a cross from the left but he saw his header just go over the top.

But Newcastle asked plenty of questions in the opening 15 minutes and had three decent chances.

Duff cut inside and saw his shot pushed around the post by Brad Friedel, who saw the effort very late and just a minute later Steven Taylor's shot on the turn was cleared off the line by Carlos Cuellar.

Obafemi Martins then volleyed over from 16 yards after a great flick by Mark Viduka before at the other end, Craig Gardner's rasping 25-yard drive was tipped over by Harper.

Villa then began to dominate the game and Harper had to come off his line swiftly to prevent Barry reaching a cross from the left.

James Milner's free-kick was then saved at the near post by Harper but the keeper had no chance with the goal as he was completely wrong footed by the deflection.

It was almost two for Villa when John Carew's cross was flicked just inches wide by Agbonlahor but the closest Newcastle came to an equaliser was in first-half injury time when Martins headed narrowly wide.

Villa dominated the second-half and Ashley Young was a whisker away from making it 2-0 when he curled an effort narrowly over the top corner.

A surging run from Milner ended with him dragging his shot wide from 20 yards before a terrible mistake from Nicky Butt almost condemned his side.

He was sloppy in possession 25 yards out and Barry capitalised but after checking back inside the defender, he curled his right-footed effort narrowly past the post.

Twelve minutes from time Carew should have settled the match when he was unmarked seven yards out only for the big Norwegian to make a complete hash of his volley with the goal gaping.

Shearer brought Michael Owen on midway through the second-half but he was a peripheral figure and their first goal attempt of the second period only came with three minutes to go when fellow sub Shola Ameobi's effort from 20 yards was high, wide and not very handsome.

Ameobi then headed over before hooking Martins' cross over the top from eight yards but the Magpies can have no complaints as they go down with just 34 points.

Lee Walker / Eurosport

Comment 557 - 576 of 616

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  1. Hi Nina, Sorry to hear you have so many issues.

    From Rodger M, on Mon 25 May 7:30AM

  2. We'll be back!!!

    From Mickyfinn, on Mon 25 May 7:24AM
  3. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    I am SOOO pleased that this ugly little team is going­ away, finally.... and Middlesborough too! Its only a­ shame Sunderland aren't going as well. I know... I­ know... it must seem really petty and vindictive of me,­ but it's nothing to do with football at all really;­ I just detest Tynesiders even more than I loath the­ English as a whole.

    From Nina G, on Mon 25 May 7:18AM

  4. well done hull,
    lol I lov it those idiots from Syd­ James park can finally realise there club is @#$% and­ living in the past when Jackie milburn was playing!!

    From Wayne, on Mon 25 May 7:09AM

  5. Newcastle got exactly what they deserve. They sacked­ one of the best managers in the Premiership because in­ the 6 months he was in charge they weren't­ challenging for the title, and replaced him with guys­ like Keegan and Shearer, great players, useless­ managers. Well Big Sam's the one laughing now,­ he'll still be managing a premiership club next­ year whilst the Toon enjoy trips to Bristol City and­ Peterborough!

    From goodyconnor, on Mon 25 May 7:07AM

  6. lol the rot set in when they got rid of­ Robson...............

    From Wayne, on Mon 25 May 7:01AM

  7. they will come back again but newcastle was an oritee­ team but ma ex supports you and ma teachers husband i­ used to but i support west ham but i have supported­ boro for 11 years and i am sorry but i do think they­ are better than newcastle and i think boro will come up­ quicker than newcastle

    From Bronwyn, on Mon 25 May 6:45AM

  8. I wouldn`t mind, Newcastle should be happy that they­ will come back again!

    From Nath, on Mon 25 May 6:33AM

  9. I hope that the premier league teams pick the bones of­ this Newcastle team apart. Please take all of the non­ committed, parasitic, ego inflated players away from­ us. We need to start from sctratch, I don't think­ we will return for a number of years. we have been­ anonymous in this league for some time now. as a­ Newcastle fan I have had very little to celebrate over­ the years, I am numb to dissapointment.

    I think we­ will struggle next year as well.

    From raine_j, on Mon 25 May 6:30AM

  10. to anand d (comment 604): so funny, uh?? Newcastle­ United had been in the Top Flight for about 14 or 15­ years, and they had been the runner-up for twice, as­ like as Liverpool, which means Magpie and The Reds are­ in Same LEVEL... Don't try to Provoke Newcastle­ United's Fans

    From jeremy_c7, on Mon 25 May 5:51AM

  11. With comments like I have read it is no wonder we are­ regarded as the scumbags of europe, there but for the­ grace of the football gods goes anyone of our teams.

    From upforowt, on Mon 25 May 5:43AM

  12. newcastle should sell the board members (EPL history)..­ everything is fine but they are too demanded.. sell­ sell sell

    From Ben, on Mon 25 May 5:36AM

  13. colocini to old trafford?as a ground staff or as what?

    From Christiano Sean, on Mon 25 May 4:19AM

  14. I'm a Fan of Nufc.. Mike ashly certainly deserve­ it.. Do come back strong..

    From brightcalvin, on Mon 25 May 4:07AM
  15. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    GLORY GLORY MAN UTD
    GLORY GLORY MAN UTD
    GLORY GLORY­ MAN UTD

    From dylan, on Mon 25 May 3:59AM

  16. i just think its about a so called "big" team­ went down
    even though its been mid table football for a­ while for the toon army
    but oh well lets just hope­ everton win the fa cup and stop the scum from stealin­ it

    From Michael W, on Mon 25 May 3:58AM
  17. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    micheal owen should go to tottenham hotspurs as a MAN­ UTD 4 LFE

    From dylan, on Mon 25 May 3:58AM

  18. Thats how it goes! aint like any1 Died

    From masambasarr, on Mon 25 May 3:57AM

  19. AS A LIVERPOOL SUPPORTER, I AM VERY SAD THAT NEW CASTLE­ ARE DOWN, NOT BECAUSE THEY WERE GOOD [AS A MATTER OF­ FACT, THEY DESERVED NOTHING LESS] BUT BECAUSE WE ARE­ ROBBED OFF OUR GUARANTEED 6 POINTS EVERY­ SEASON..HAHAHAHAHAHA

    From anand d, on Mon 25 May 3:46AM

  20. i agree no one would want owen he is @#$%

    From oscar, on Mon 25 May 3:46AM
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