Villa win thriller as Shearer is dropped

Aston Villa 4 Newcastle 2

Alan Shearer was dropped as Newcastle’s poor start to the season took another turn for the worst with defeat at Villa Park.

Despite leading through goals from Shearer’s replacement Patrick Kluivert and Andy O’Brien at the interval, the visitors succumbed to Aston Villa’s increased intensity in the second period to pile the pressure on manager Bobby Robson.

Newcastle are still without a win in four Barclays Premiership matches this campaign and have been victorious just once in 11 league attempts, stretching back to the end of last season when they also crashed out in the UEFA Cup semi-final against Marseille.

Robson took the drastic action of omitting Shearer, 34, for the first time in a league match, when fully fit, since 1999 during Ruud Gullit’s tenure at St James’ Park.

Dutchman Kluivert and Craig Bellamy formed a new-look strike force for the north-east side and although the former was instrumental in providing a first-half lead, Newcastle’s mix-and-match defence post-Jonathan Woodgate could not hold on.

Despite the lack of a quality centre-back, Robson twice bid for Everton striker Wayne Rooney this week, and the transfer deadline is just hours away.

Robson’s men made a terrible start as Darius Vassell’s pace down the left channel terrorised them time and again in the opening exchanges.

One of several early bursts from Vassell eventually led to a fourth-minute corner and former Newcastle midfielder Nolberto Solano’s delivery was met by the unmarked Olof Mellberg, who powered his header into the roof of the net from six yards.

While David O’Leary’s Villa dominated the opening stages, Newcastle got back into things through Jermaine Jenas’ energy.

His mazy run crept him to the byline in the 11th minute and with goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen struggling to regain his position, only Mellberg’s timely interception prevented a pass across the face of goal reaching Craig Bellamy at the back post.

Mellberg’s anticipation then snuffed out Kluivert as Newcastle threatened on the break while Jenas somehow failed to hit the target with a free header from a Laurent Robert free-kick.

Robert and Lee Bowyer patrolled the flanks for United with Kieron Dyer, reportedly a target for Villa boss O’Leary following his much-publicised spat with Robson, not even in the visitors’ 16.

Despite those moments of promise, however, it took a brilliant, reflex save from Shay Given in the 25th minute to prevent them going 2-0 down, kicking away Vassell’s close-ranger effort.

And seconds later Newcastle levelled through former Barcelona star Kluivert, who received Nicky Butt’s slide pass on the edge of the area, turned Delaney and prodded a shot past the despairing dive of Sorensen.

He followed that classy finish with another attempt from 20 yards, after another exquisite turn, which Sorensen tipped over the bar.

When the initial corner that followed broke down, Bellamy scooped the ball back to the right edge of the six-yard area where the solitary figure of O’Brien lurked and the ball brushed off the head of the Newcastle defender and bobbled in at the far post.

The absence of Danish defender Martin Laursen, through injury, appeared to disrupt the midlands team and the players berated each other for leaving opponents unmarked.

But they might have scored a second goal themselves as half-time approached when Solano’s volley hit the crossbar and Barry sliced the rebound inches wide.

A breathless match continued at the same pace on the resumption and Villa soon achieved parity through Cole’s second goal of the season.

Jlloyd Samuel broke down the left and whipped the ball towards the penalty spot, Barry met it on the run and although his shot was parried by Given, Carlton Cole used his muscle to divert into the net with his chest from on the goalline.

Just two minutes later, however, Villa should have been reduced to 10 men as Bellamy’s speed caused chaos.

Olivier Bernard’s long ball over the top sent Bellamy clear and the Welshman’s lob was charged down by goalkeeper Sorensen’s left hand, yards outside the box.

Despite spotting the infringement and awarding a free-kick, referee Mike Riley chose to issue a booking rather than a red card, much to the Newcastle players’ anger, and Sorensen palmed away Robert’s set-piece effort.

Substitute Lee Hendrie, sent on for Thomas Hitzlsperger, livened up Villa’s attacking play and was unfortunate to watch a snap-shot deflect around the post.

But Villa were forced to make a second change midway through the period as Cole clearly struggled with a thigh problem, making way for Colombian international Juan Pablo Angel.

And Angel’s first contribution was a telling one as he regained possession with a sliding tackle on Aaron Hughes, which allowed Solano the time and space to pick out Barry at the back post.

Barry rose above the black and white shirts to add another fine headed goal to a contest packed with chances.

Shearer eventually took his place in the action 14 minutes from the end in a double substitution with Shola Ameobi, as Kluivert and Bowyer were replaced.

Those changes added to the firepower but it was Bellamy who tested Sorensen with another aerial effort which required touching over the top.

If Newcastle and Robson felt hard done by, their luck was compounded in the closing stages as Angel’s drive ballooned off O’Brien and over a stranded Given for Villa’s fourth.