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 537 - 556 of 616

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  1. #600 wtf?

    From oscar, on Mon 25 May 3:43AM

  2. owen go sign for which teams

    From elvinhow, on Mon 25 May 3:38AM

  3. blah blah blah holiday holiday holiday time

    From Dean, on Mon 25 May 3:37AM

  4. This is the addest day of my llife so far. I am so sad­ it is not true. HOw can we get relegated? We played­ @#$% i grant you that, but hull? and sunderland? in the­ prem over us? And we are now fu ck ed cos in the­ championship evryone is going to be so pumpde up to­ play us it will be like their cup final. I hope we do­ not do a leeds, and for you scum who dont liek us, what­ did we ever do to you? i hate u scum

    From oscar, on Mon 25 May 3:33AM

  5. agarbadeen, it's not up to the fans who is manager,­ it is up to the chairman or the board to decide. Maybe­ the fans should hav been more patient but the fans did­ not sack big sam nor did they hire him. And I believe­ it's called the Championship now but we will let­ that one go, yeah?

    From sav, on Mon 25 May 3:20AM

  6. comment 578 (colin h) i think gary lineker and ian­ wright might have something to say about that.just­ aswell ian rush was welsh cos he was better than­ shearer

    From robbieisfineshedyahoooo, on Mon 25 May 3:20AM

  7. What the h ell is the "Championship" league? ­ I've never heard of any of the teams...My satellite­ provider only shows Premiership games - I assume­ because it the only league that actually matters...Have­ fun, you Geordies...

    From Butch Coolidge, on Mon 25 May 3:08AM

  8. i feel sympathy for the newcastle fans. By the way, i­ hope my favourite team (man United) will offer Fabricio­ Coloccini and martin to old trafford.

    From kown d, on Mon 25 May 2:59AM

  9. aaronlinstead, clearly not a fan of football then­ judging by the team you support. Yes QPR and Newcastle­ will be a good match considering they are miles away­ from each other and there is no history whatsoever­ between the teams. Bedtime I think aaronlinstead. ­ Night night

    From sav, on Mon 25 May 2:56AM

  10. good to see northern rock united where they­ belong-shearer,shearer

    From Andrew H, on Mon 25 May 2:45AM

  11. at first i thought it was a laugh seeing a big club­ like newcastle drop. But looking at it i'll just­ miss seeing them on match of the day. Good luck­ getting back up quickly boys...don't...i repeat­ don't do a Leeds

    From damianflycasual, on Mon 25 May 2:45AM

  12. Not really a fan of Football, but I support Brentford,­ I can't wait to see QPR vs Newcastle. Going to be­ one heck of a match!

    From Aaron, on Mon 25 May 2:34AM

  13. even tho i'm an out and out united fan, i can't­ picture the league without Newcastle, gonna be weird­ next season!! Shearer did well to come in so late and­ give it a go. hope he stays on and tries to reinvent­ the club and they bounce back quickly.

    From Alan, on Mon 25 May 2:19AM

  14. Well guys the season is nearly over, must say i have­ enjoyed the crossing of swords with you. Just been to­ the fridge and it has only fu cking food left. Some­ unfinished business soon, ie PL play off and CL [Scouse­ lover]. Have fun guys, no other way, scouse lover you­ are a bit of a cricketing buff i think, so pal what the­ fu ck are we going to do agreeing about the Ashes,­ mayb we will be mates over this, doesn't mean you­ can take me for a meal though, i ain't that easy.­ Plenty of sport left though, look after yourselves and­ your families and friends. Best wishes to you all,­ Colin H.

    From Colin H, on Mon 25 May 2:18AM

  15. shearer was a great player but taking the manager job­ there was madness ,with no experience and taking on a­ team at the time with low confidence and struggling to­ get points was just too much ,i feel he should of­ started with a lower league team and worked up if he­ was successful and maybe take the job at newcastle­ then, newcastle themselves should of looked for a­ manager whos been through it before and who is able to­ cope and get get the best from the team in that­ position,i wish newcastle the best next year and­ hopefuuly they will return as a club their size should­ be in top flight football

    From , on Mon 25 May 2:05AM

  16. comment 583, i know how pis sed i am, i thought your­ name was Aberdeen

    From Colin H, on Mon 25 May 2:04AM

  17. Paul H, like i said before, any Newcastle manager must­ be given time, does not matter if he loses games to­ start. He will know if he is up to it, give the guy a­ chance. As much as i hate to admit it, look at manu.

    From Colin H, on Mon 25 May 2:00AM

  18. cya toon.....u will be back soon. good luck

    From PAUL H, on Mon 25 May 1:44AM

  19. colin..true. he needed to be bloodied elsewhere b4­ taking such a job. but i love his attitude. he is a­ true gentleman. unlike ignorant ferguson or benitez

    From PAUL H, on Mon 25 May 1:41AM

  20. Newcastle is a big club but do deserve to go down.­ Sorry shearer, am sure you did your best. newcaslte­ fans should have been more patient with Sam Alladyce.­ Enjoy Div 1.

    From Azeez, on Mon 25 May 1:40AM
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