Given recalls his darkest football hour

NEWCASTLE keeper Shay Given was served with a reminder of his worst moment in football as he helped his club to a morale-boosting victory over Aston Villa this week.

The 32-year-old Irishman was instrumental in Monday night’s 2-0 Barclays Premier League win over Aston Villa, making a vital first-half save from Ashley Young as the Magpies hauled themselves from the foot of the table and into the relative calm of 14th place.

But amid the euphoria of securing three precious points, and the furore surrounding midfielder Joey Barton since, another big moment for Given went largely unnoticed.