Martins brace sees Magpies fly out of drop zone

Newcastle 2 Aston Villa 0

The Nigeria international scored for the second time in six days to hand his side a win which lifted them to 14th place.

Afterwards Martins hailed the impact of Joe Kinnear at the club. “The gaffer is doing his best, just to try and push the pace in training.

“It helped us a lot today. We are happy he is here. The players have no problem with the gaffer and I hope he stays.

Martins continued: “We really needed this match, to put in 100% to win. I hope we continue like this.”

Having not had back-to-back league successes since April, six points from the visits of West Brom and Villa inside a week represents a major boost for a side which had not kept a clean sheet since August 23.

Kinnear’s men were good value for their victory. But it might have been so different had Gabriel Agbonlahor not miskicked in front of goal or Shay Given, in his 450th appearance for the club, not produced a fine stop to deny Ashley Young.

Newcastle got a warning after 11 minutes when Villa captain Martin Laursen glanced a Gareth Barry corner just wide, and quite how Agbonlahor failed to convert former Magpie James Milner’s 22nd-minute cross only he will know.

But Kinnear’s men had Given, now fourth in the club’s all-time appearance list, to thank for their share of the spoils at the break when he made a point-blank block to deny Ashley Young nine minutes before the break.

Newcastle had chances of their own with Joey Barton, who had earlier been spoken to by referee Steve Bennett after a clash with Agbonlahor, forcing a good save from Brad Friedel with a long-distance effort.

Newcastle were increasingly stretched in the second half and Barton earned himself a booking with a late 53rd-minute challenge on Luke Young.

The game was starting to open up, and the opening goal arrived with 30 minutes remaining.

Barton picked out Martins with his back to goal on the edge of the penalty area and he turned smartly before blasting a left-foot drive wide into the bottom corner.

Seven minutes later Nicky Butt’s free-kick clipped the post.

The game was secured eight minutes from time when Jonas Gutierrez capped a fine display with a high-octane run down the left and a cross which Martins gleefully blasted into the back of the net.

NEWCASTLE: Given, Beye, Coloccini, Taylor, Jose Enrique, Gutierrez, Barton, Butt, Duff, Martins (Cacapa 88), Ameobi (Owen 90).

ASTON VILLA: Friedel, Luke Young, Cuellar, Laursen, Shorey (Sidwell 72), Milner, Reo-Coker (Harewood 85), Barry, Ashley Young, Agbonlahor, Carew.

Referee: Steve Bennett (Kent).

Coventry’s Irish international striker Clinton Morrison came back to haunt former club Birmingham as he scored the decisive goal in an entertaining 1-0 Championship clash at St Andrews.