Newcastle relegated after losing at Aston Villa

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posted on 15 years ago — updated on 1 second ago

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A first-half goal ended 16 seasons of EPL action for Newcastle United.

New Delhi: A deflected first-half goal from Gareth Barry ended 16 seasons of Premier League action for Newcastle United as Aston Villa picked up a 1-0 home win.

Barry's strike was actually credited to Damien Duff, such was the ferocity of the deflection, but this tells its own story as that was the closest that the Magpies got to a goalmouth all day.

Indeed, not until Jose Enrique's ball across goalmouth found no takers was there even a hint that Alan Shearer's men were to stay up, as prior to that their play lacked conviction.

The hosts started the brighter side, Fabricio Coloccini struggling to deal with frequent encroachments from the likes of Gabby Agbonlahor and Young, and the rest of the Newcastle back line looked less than certain.

Steve Harper had to do well to prevent Craig Gardner from opening the scoring with a long range drive, and there were nervy moments as Steve Taylor was booked for a foul on Agbonlahor, the free-kick bringing out another save.

But the stopper could do nothing about Duff's own goal, Gareth Barry seizing on a poorly-cleared corner before whacking his shot off the ex-Chelsea man's shin and into the back of the net.

John Carew shiuld make made it 2-0 soon afterwards, and although Obafemi Martins shot wide just before the break Villa were in front.

Newcastle knew that Hull City were also losing at half time, meaning that a draw would suffice, but the North-East outfit showed little sign of being able to manage this as the second period began.

In fact Villa looked by far the better side towards the hour mark, James Milner's solo run and lethal shot only just flashing wide on 55 minutes.

Jose Enrique and Michael Owen were brought on by a desperate Alan Shearer, but although the former looked the part the England international barely managed a touch of the ball.

Indeed, Newcastle were huffing and puffing a great deal, but as Shola Ameobi came on, Villa almost netted on the break through Barry.

Then came that bizarre moment from Jose Enrique, whose deep, deep cross fizzed across goalmouth with nobody there to touch it, despite the fact that there were three strikes on the pitch.

Then, deep into stoppage time, David Edgar picked up a second booking for a trip on Ashley Young, ending Newcastle United's Premier League season with an absurdly pointless sending-off.