Newcastle United 1 Aston Villa 0 - match report and pictures
Loic Remy struck an injury-time winner for Newcastle as Villa missed the chance to ease any relegation fears.
The Frenchman lashed in with a minute left to break Villa's hearts and leave them facing a nerve-jangling run-in.
It looked set to finish goalless after Remy hit the post and Papiss Cisse blazed over a fine chance.
The Magpies also had strong penalty claims turned down after Leandro Bacuna handled in the box late on.
Gabby Agbonlahor shot over from distance and was denied by Tim Krul as they remain 13th in the table, four points above the bottom three.
Karim El Ahmadi and Andi Weimann replaced Marc Albrighton and Joe Bennett from the 0-0 draw at Cardiff while Matt Lowton was again left out of the squad.
Newcastle recalled Fabricio Coloccini and Cheik Tiote after injury and Remy returned after a ban.
Remy tested Brad Guzan after just two minutes and while Bacuna guided a free kick wide Villa's early threat was limited.
Nathan Baker hacked clear after Guzan spilled Papiss Cisse's shot on 10 minutes and Remy scuffed wide five minutes later.
Newcastle made the running but the visitors unsettled the hosts as they switched off during a spell of Villa pressure.
El Ahmadi flashed two centres across goal and Krul saved Agbonlahor's snap shot before the Villa ace shot inches over from 25-yards.
The claret and blues began to boss the game and Krul stopped Bacuna's free kick as Newcastle struggled to impose themselves.
The Magpies had lost their last three games and the natives were restless as they failed to build on a bright start.
Villa's composed midfield gave the visitors a platform and as deep run from Agbonlahor ended when Coloccini deflected his shot wide on 34 minutes.
Newcastle did eventually threaten again four minutes before the break when Ron Vlaar was booking for bringing down Remy and the Magpies striker bent the free kick wide.
And Newcastle should have gone in 1-0 up after Remy broke the Villa offside trap to cut back for Cisse – who could only blaze over from eight yards.
The hosts were jeered off at the break and Gouffran shot wide seven minutes after the re-start as the Magpies tried to improve the mood.
Paul Dummett and Yoan Gouffran shot over just after the hour as Villa failed to create a chance of note.
Newcastle had upped their game and Guzan denied Remy before they had strong penalty claims turned down after Bacuna handled in the area with 10 minutes left.
The hosts finished strongly and shot have won it with two minutes left when Luuk De Jong robbed Vlaar in the area and squared for Remy – who hit the post.
But the Frenchman won it in stoppage time when he controlled De Jong's deflected cross, turned Vlaar and lashed in.
