Aston Villa against Newcastle United

Shearer gets well above Johnsen to meet a left wing corner and drive the ball down towards the goal line. Sorensen is well positioned though and holds the ball to his chest

Given earns his corn again by plucking a ball out of the air in the middle of a crowd of players

Good spel of Villa pressure. De la Cruz refuses to give up a lost cause and forces Bernard into a mistake that earns another corner

Ball swung over and cleared just to Hendry on the edge of the area. Instant control and shot has half the crowd celebrating a goal but it is just to outside side netting that ripples. Unlucky

Given has to play it safe after a Vassell cross looks to be falling under his bar. Allback is lurking with intent so the Newcastle keeper just puts it over his bar

The fractious nature of the game over the last 10 minutes goes to show just how important this match is to both sets of players

Bridges is dispossessed by Samuel down by the Villa corner flag. In an effort to win it back he lashes out at Samuel and he is now shown a yellow card

Villa break after Allback pounces on the ball and heads up field. Vassell in support adds more pace and Newcastle are back peddling. Thankfully for them though, there are enough black and white shirts to quell the danger

Allm the waiting around and quiet words from the ref calm things down and Bowyer's free kick in the end is poor

Bernard looks to exagerate a little clash with De la Cruz. Gets past him and then falls over his leg. Free kick given in a dangerous position. While the wall is being built there is still more handbags in the box

A real atmosphere now and the tackles continue to fly. The latest to exchange angry looks are Bridges and Whittingham

Speed and Hendry clash again, a minute after being talked to. Initially a great challenge and then his arm gets in Hendry's face. hendry makes a meal of it and Speed gets booked. Hendry really is a nasty little player

Touch paper has been lit. Plenty of litle spats going on - the one taking the referee's attention is a little bit of handbags between Hendry and Speed. Something and nothing

Now Shearer is in trouble. A nasty, frustrated kick at the back of Melleberg's legs earns him a yellow card. Well deserved

Bowyer once more in the middle of controversy. gets forward well and then throws himself over Mellberg's outstretched leg looking for a foul. The referee is not fooled and Mellberg is angry

Villa substitution: Peter Whittingham comes on in place of Solano

Johnsen this time breaks forward from the back. He finds Solano about 20 yards out in space. Picks his spot but doesn't hit it. Shot five yards wide in the end

Wonderful chance for the home side. Mellberg surged forward before giving Barry the chance to pick out Allback on the penalty spot. Directed his header towards goal but the contact was not good and it was never going to beat Given

Newcastle realy showing some steel and resiliance in this half

De la Cruz is penalised for a foul throw - how does a professional footballer ever get caught out like that?! Awful

Hendry tries to release the pacey Vassell through the centre as hugh gaps begin to open up in the middle of the pitch

Aston Villa substitution comes with Crouch leaving the field to be replaced by Marcus Allback

Great football from Newcastle. Dyer the prompter, fed Bridges on the touchline, back to Dyer who released shearer in the right corner. Ball across found Viana and his snap shot is going in until Sorensen got down to make a smart save with his feet. Excellent stuff

Despite the advantages given to Villa by events they are making very heavy work of this game

Lung bursting run down the touchline from Samuel gets him into the Newcastle box but Bowyer has time to come across and cover. A more positive approch from Villa's full backs is exactly what they need

Break on for Villa with Gareth Barry. Given a criminal amountof room on the left wing his cross should have been a lot better. In the end Woodgate has time to punt it away

Second Newcastle corner is well claimed by Sorensen

Corner for Newcastle sees Shearer causing problems and Johnsen has to be srong and alert to deny him

Dyer carries the ball well up field and gives the ball to Bridges whos first action is to beat Samuel and fire in a ball that Shearer is only inches away from turning into the goal

Michael Bridges comes off the bench to replace Bellamy.

Bellamy is up and walking but can take no further part in the match - or probably in the Uefa Cup semi final next week. A real blow for the Magpies

Great ball forward from Bowyer sets Bellamy flying down the right wing. A shis pace takes him past Johnsen as if he wasn't there but suddenly he pulls up in agaony. Looks like a hamstring and it looks very bad for the Welshman

Free kick for Villa from deep on the right finds Mellberg free. Unfortunately for him the ball is just behind him and though he cranes his neck to send it goalward there is no pace on the efforrt at all

Given sees plenty of the ball early on - dealing with a succession of back passes

Newcastle kick off the second half

A fantastic opening ten minutes from Villa came to an end once O'Brien had been sent off. Rather than getting more on top, Villa have since suffered from Newcastle's understandable negative tactics. Leaving just Shearer up front and reverting to two banks of four they have coped admirably with Villa's forward play - and had the odd chance on the break themselves. Whether they can hold out for another 45 minutes, remains to be seen

Final whistle sounds and the two sides go in without a goal between them

Vassell has the ball in the back of the net but it will not stand. In a race to the ball with Hughes the England man inadvertedly clipped his opponent's heels before he got into the box and slotted past Sorensen

Searching ball from Hitzlsperger is bound for Solano in a dangerous position until Bernard gets in front to calmly head back to Given

Two minutes of time to be added on

Bowyer's tenacity wins Newcastle the ball and a good pass sets off Bellamy. He in turn lays square along the box to Shearer who unleashes a powerful shot that rises just too much and sails over the crossbar

Slightly disjointed passage of play as the half draws to a close

Wonderful inswinging cross from Barry looks like it only needs a touch for a goal. Johsen does get that touch but just glances it wide of Given's goal. A real chance

Clever little chip over two static Villa defenders releases Shearer. A very late flag goes up when Shearer was about 4 yards on. Frustration of the face of the Geordie captain is very evident

Newcastle show strenght, patience and good ball control to retain possession in a crowded midfield area for a time, probing for an opening that never comes

De la Cruz and Bernard clash once again and that will be an interesting contest from now on

Bowyer quickly into the action and gets in a tangle with Mellberg. Looked a fair shout for a free kick but the Villa man comes away with it

By the looks of it Jenas went off with a knock whilst the sacrifice of Robert was a tactical switch

Double substitution for Newcastle: Robert and Jenas make way for Hugo Viana and Lee Bowyer

De la Cruz is very late in getting to a challenge with Bernard for a 50-50 on the edge of the Newcastle box. Very untidy tackle and he is rightly booked for his trouble

Flighted ball up to Crouch on the edge of the box where he is being watched by both Woodgate and Dyer. ome fans want a free kick but in truth it was good, solid defending

Break up the other end sees Bellamy having to use all his pace to chase and catch the ball down the right. No support at all though and once Shearer does arrive Bellamy's cross is nothing like where he wanted it

Villa's crossing once more lets them down and the chance is gone

Cross from Solano on the right clips Bernards head - penalty appeals from the crowd were very hopeful - before Woodgate puts behind for a corner

More good triangles down the right through Dela Cruz, Solano and Hendry. Get to the by-line but Hendry is marshalled out for a goal kick

A lucky ricochet gives the ball to Crouch who shows directness in going for goal from the corner of the box. Keeps it low and hard but pulls the ball wide of Given's right hand post

Bernard earns a few harsh looks from his team mates by spooning a cross from deep when he was under no pressure at all. Very wasteful

Newcastle looking to take the sting out of the match now they are at a numerical disadvantage

Ball up to Crouch who holds it up well in the box. Finds a way to lay back to the oncoming Hendry who blasts the effort high into the stand when he really should have done better

Corner ball sees Crouch once m,ore the target. Under pressure from Woodgate he can'tt control his header

Solano overlaps down the right and recieves the ball from De la Cruz. Plenty of time to pick his spot for the cross but the imperious Woodgate meets it squarely

Nice interchange of passes from Vassell and Hendry works the ball to Hitzlsperger in front of goal. The crowd urge him to shoot and he barely needs encouraging. Good power but again, wide of the mark

After the sending off the pace of the game has dropped when you would have thought Vila would look to exploit their advantage

Robert wins the ball in midfield and feeds Shearer quickly. bellamy sprints through the middle to support and accepts the pass from his captain. A lovely little diagonal pass puts in Robert 8 yards out but Sorensen saves and Robert is flagged offside

Poor throw out from Sorensen puts Barry in trouble. Bellamy wrestles the ball off him and is in on goal but the referee blows for a soft free kick

Solano inswinging corner tempts Given to come a long way off his line to compete with Crouch. Keeper does just about enough to keep the ball away from the lanky frontman

Free kick for Newcastle 35 yards out? Yes you've guessed it - a Robert shot is on! Not a bad effort that Sorensen has to watch all the way but the Dane gets it out of the danger area well

Bernard tries to find a way through the Villa back line but he is tripped just as he gets up a head of steam

It's been all Villa so far and that, coupled with the man advantage has really lifted the home fans spirits thias early on

Newcastle old boy Solano takes the kick from inside the D and grazes the top of the cross bar

Newcastle's task made a lot, lot harder. Ball over the top sees Vassell and O'Brien jostling for the ball. The ref deems that O'Brien had pushed his opponent and as the last man he shows the Newcastle man red. O'Brien off!

Much the brighter opening from the home side and it is they who look likely to score.

Vassell, looking spritly, is muscled off the ball by a combination of O'Brien and Speed as he threatened to break into the box

The ball is kept alive by Villa though and a reverse pass sets throught Solano down the right channel. Great cut back but no one read it and it just finds space

Nicely worked move down the left from Villa involving Barry, Samuel and Hendry allows Samuel the chance to cross but his effort is cleared

Hitzlsperger, who was fouled, lines up the shot but it goes well over the bar

Newcastle lose possession in midfield and in an efort to recover Dyer gives away a free kick around 30 yards out

Long ball forward fromk Given aimed for Shearer. Johnsen wins his first challenge with the Newcastle man

Villa start the game by pressing very high up the pitch and worrying the Newcastle back line in possession. They win the ball and Hendry has the first shot of the game from the corner of the area. Poor effort is dragged well wide in the end

Villa get us under way and already Crouch slips on what looks to be a very poor, wet pitch

Stille no Juan Pablo Angel for Villa but with Peter Crouch promising to fullfill his potential more and more and with a fit again Craig Bellamy supporting Alan Shearer goals are definitely on the menu

The prize for the two sides today is, at least temporary, occupation of the precious fourth spot in the Premier League. Over 40,000 are cramed into Villa Park for what promises to be a cracking game of football today

All the action from Villa Park, with live commentary and GameCast from 14.00 BST

Villa substitution: Peter Whittingham comes on in place of Solano

Johnsen this time breaks forward from the back. He finds Solano about 20 yards out in space. Picks his spot but doesn't hit it. Shot five yards wide in the end

Wonderful chance for the home side. Mellberg surged forward before giving Barry the chance to pick out Allback on the penalty spot. Directed his header towards goal but the contact was not good and it was never going to beat Given

Newcastle realy showing some steel and resiliance in this half

De la Cruz is penalised for a foul throw - how does a professional footballer ever get caught out like that?! Awful

Hendry tries to release the pacey Vassell through the centre as hugh gaps begin to open up in the middle of the pitch

Aston Villa substitution comes with Crouch leaving the field to be replaced by Marcus Allback

Great football from Newcastle. Dyer the prompter, fed Bridges on the touchline, back to Dyer who released shearer in the right corner. Ball across found Viana and his snap shot is going in until Sorensen got down to make a smart save with his feet. Excellent stuff

Despite the advantages given to Villa by events they are making very heavy work of this game

Lung bursting run down the touchline from Samuel gets him into the Newcastle box but Bowyer has time to come across and cover. A more positive approch from Villa's full backs is exactly what they need

Break on for Villa with Gareth Barry. Given a criminal amountof room on the left wing his cross should have been a lot better. In the end Woodgate has time to punt it away

Second Newcastle corner is well claimed by Sorensen

Corner for Newcastle sees Shearer causing problems and Johnsen has to be srong and alert to deny him

Dyer carries the ball well up field and gives the ball to Bridges whos first action is to beat Samuel and fire in a ball that Shearer is only inches away from turning into the goal

Michael Bridges comes off the bench to replace Bellamy.

Bellamy is up and walking but can take no further part in the match - or probably in the Uefa Cup semi final next week. A real blow for the Magpies

Great ball forward from Bowyer sets Bellamy flying down the right wing. A shis pace takes him past Johnsen as if he wasn't there but suddenly he pulls up in agaony. Looks like a hamstring and it looks very bad for the Welshman

Free kick for Villa from deep on the right finds Mellberg free. Unfortunately for him the ball is just behind him and though he cranes his neck to send it goalward there is no pace on the efforrt at all

Given sees plenty of the ball early on - dealing with a succession of back passes

Newcastle kick off the second half

A fantastic opening ten minutes from Villa came to an end once O'Brien had been sent off. Rather than getting more on top, Villa have since suffered from Newcastle's understandable negative tactics. Leaving just Shearer up front and reverting to two banks of four they have coped admirably with Villa's forward play - and had the odd chance on the break themselves. Whether they can hold out for another 45 minutes, remains to be seen

Final whistle sounds and the two sides go in without a goal between them

Vassell has the ball in the back of the net but it will not stand. In a race to the ball with Hughes the England man inadvertedly clipped his opponent's heels before he got into the box and slotted past Sorensen

Searching ball from Hitzlsperger is bound for Solano in a dangerous position until Bernard gets in front to calmly head back to Given

Two minutes of time to be added on

Bowyer's tenacity wins Newcastle the ball and a good pass sets off Bellamy. He in turn lays square along the box to Shearer who unleashes a powerful shot that rises just too much and sails over the crossbar

Slightly disjointed passage of play as the half draws to a close

Wonderful inswinging cross from Barry looks like it only needs a touch for a goal. Johsen does get that touch but just glances it wide of Given's goal. A real chance

Clever little chip over two static Villa defenders releases Shearer. A very late flag goes up when Shearer was about 4 yards on. Frustration of the face of the Geordie captain is very evident

Newcastle show strenght, patience and good ball control to retain possession in a crowded midfield area for a time, probing for an opening that never comes

De la Cruz and Bernard clash once again and that will be an interesting contest from now on

Bowyer quickly into the action and gets in a tangle with Mellberg. Looked a fair shout for a free kick but the Villa man comes away with it

By the looks of it Jenas went off with a knock whilst the sacrifice of Robert was a tactical switch

Double substitution for Newcastle: Robert and Jenas make way for Hugo Viana and Lee Bowyer

De la Cruz is very late in getting to a challenge with Bernard for a 50-50 on the edge of the Newcastle box. Very untidy tackle and he is rightly booked for his trouble

Flighted ball up to Crouch on the edge of the box where he is being watched by both Woodgate and Dyer. ome fans want a free kick but in truth it was good, solid defending

Break up the other end sees Bellamy having to use all his pace to chase and catch the ball down the right. No support at all though and once Shearer does arrive Bellamy's cross is nothing like where he wanted it

Villa's crossing once more lets them down and the chance is gone

Cross from Solano on the right clips Bernards head - penalty appeals from the crowd were very hopeful - before Woodgate puts behind for a corner

More good triangles down the right through Dela Cruz, Solano and Hendry. Get to the by-line but Hendry is marshalled out for a goal kick

A lucky ricochet gives the ball to Crouch who shows directness in going for goal from the corner of the box. Keeps it low and hard but pulls the ball wide of Given's right hand post

Bernard earns a few harsh looks from his team mates by spooning a cross from deep when he was under no pressure at all. Very wasteful

Newcastle looking to take the sting out of the match now they are at a numerical disadvantage

Ball up to Crouch who holds it up well in the box. Finds a way to lay back to the oncoming Hendry who blasts the effort high into the stand when he really should have done better

Corner ball sees Crouch once m,ore the target. Under pressure from Woodgate he can'tt control his header

Solano overlaps down the right and recieves the ball from De la Cruz. Plenty of time to pick his spot for the cross but the imperious Woodgate meets it squarely

Nice interchange of passes from Vassell and Hendry works the ball to Hitzlsperger in front of goal. The crowd urge him to shoot and he barely needs encouraging. Good power but again, wide of the mark

After the sending off the pace of the game has dropped when you would have thought Vila would look to exploit their advantage

Robert wins the ball in midfield and feeds Shearer quickly. bellamy sprints through the middle to support and accepts the pass from his captain. A lovely little diagonal pass puts in Robert 8 yards out but Sorensen saves and Robert is flagged offside

Poor throw out from Sorensen puts Barry in trouble. Bellamy wrestles the ball off him and is in on goal but the referee blows for a soft free kick

Solano inswinging corner tempts Given to come a long way off his line to compete with Crouch. Keeper does just about enough to keep the ball away from the lanky frontman

Free kick for Newcastle 35 yards out? Yes you've guessed it - a Robert shot is on! Not a bad effort that Sorensen has to watch all the way but the Dane gets it out of the danger area well

Bernard tries to find a way through the Villa back line but he is tripped just as he gets up a head of steam

It's been all Villa so far and that, coupled with the man advantage has really lifted the home fans spirits thias early on

Newcastle old boy Solano takes the kick from inside the D and grazes the top of the cross bar

Newcastle's task made a lot, lot harder. Ball over the top sees Vassell and O'Brien jostling for the ball. The ref deems that O'Brien had pushed his opponent and as the last man he shows the Newcastle man red. O'Brien off!

Much the brighter opening from the home side and it is they who look likely to score.

Vassell, looking spritly, is muscled off the ball by a combination of O'Brien and Speed as he threatened to break into the box

The ball is kept alive by Villa though and a reverse pass sets throught Solano down the right channel. Great cut back but no one read it and it just finds space

Nicely worked move down the left from Villa involving Barry, Samuel and Hendry allows Samuel the chance to cross but his effort is cleared

Hitzlsperger, who was fouled, lines up the shot but it goes well over the bar

Newcastle lose possession in midfield and in an efort to recover Dyer gives away a free kick around 30 yards out

Long ball forward fromk Given aimed for Shearer. Johnsen wins his first challenge with the Newcastle man

Villa start the game by pressing very high up the pitch and worrying the Newcastle back line in possession. They win the ball and Hendry has the first shot of the game from the corner of the area. Poor effort is dragged well wide in the end

Villa get us under way and already Crouch slips on what looks to be a very poor, wet pitch

Stille no Juan Pablo Angel for Villa but with Peter Crouch promising to fullfill his potential more and more and with a fit again Craig Bellamy supporting Alan Shearer goals are definitely on the menu

The prize for the two sides today is, at least temporary, occupation of the precious fourth spot in the Premier League. Over 40,000 are cramed into Villa Park for what promises to be a cracking game of football today

All the action from Villa Park, with live commentary and GameCast from 14.00 BST