Aston Villa 4-1 Newcastle

Owen back in the groove but King Kev's revolution awaits

Newcastle, despite going ahead through a fourth minute Michael Owen goal were soundly beaten at Villa Park yesterday, with John Carew getting his first Villa hat-trick. Aston Villa vs Newcastle is always as entertaining game, though not often as one sided as this game was.

As the Premier League has continued with its usual hyperbole, and Keegan has been heralded back to Tyneside as the Messiah, Martin O'Neill has been quietly working his magic at Villa Park. From a steady start to the season, Aston Villa are now comfortably ensconced in the race for fourth place and who would bet against them getting it?

Admittedly a lot of Villa's chances came from farcical Newcastle defending, however almost from the moment they conceded a goal in the fourth minute, they were in the ascendency over a Newcastle team showing prescious little of Keegan's revolutionary magic.

John Carew will be in the headlines for his hat-trick, but the equaliser early in the second half came from Wilfred Bouma, who had not scored for two and a half seasons! Carews hat-trick was wrapped up two minutes from time as he lashed a penalty past Given to claim the match ball.

Footy Focus thinks King Kev can't wait for the season to end and get busy in the transfer market!