Newcastle 2 Villa 0
Villa missed the chance to climb into the Premiership's top three when they were sunk by two goals from Obafemi Martins at St James Park.
Villa missed the chance to climb into the Premiership's top three when they were sunk by two goals from Obafemi Martins at St James Park.
Martins opened the scoring on the hour, beating Villa keeper Brad Friedel with a left-footed shot from 18 yards after turning inside Martin Laursen.
The Nigerian secured victory, tapping home from close-range after good work down the left from Jonas Gutierrez.
Gabriel Agbonlahor had Villa's best chance but the striker mis-kicked from close range after Ashley Young had played him in.
Villa boss Martin O'Neill said: "The first half was excellent and we deserved to go in front, but we are instead left to rue the chances we would normally take.
"They were big moments in the game, hitting the post and Gabriel Agbonlahor missing a chance he'd usually score.
"But when they scored, it became a fatal blow, not just a setback."
