BAROS PENALTY MISS PROVES COSTLY FOR VILLA

By Ryan Ghee
February 11 2006

Milan Baros was left to rue a second-half penalty miss as Newcastle secured their second win in as many games under caretaker boss Glenn Roeder.

The revitalised visitors took the lead just two minutes in when Shola Ameobi slid the ball under the body of Thomas Sorensen. Luke Moore then continued his recent goal-scoring spree when he equalised after 16 minutes but Charles N'Zogbia scored what turned out to be the winner on the half-hour mark.

On paper, the match looked sure to be a tight affair, with one point and one place seperating the teams in the league table along with the fact that the meeting between the Magpies and the Villans ended all square at St James' Park earlier in the season.

However, with Newcastle forgetting that such matches are traditionally dominated by the two defences, Shola Ameobi broke through the Villa back-line and opened the scoring just 74 seconds in.

Newcastle's all time goalscoring record holder, Alan Shearer, played a major role in the goal as he slipped the ball through to his striker partner who calmly slotted the ball past Thomas Sorensen.

The home side looked shocked by the early setback but within just sixteen minutes, Luke Moore scored his fourth goal in as many games as he nipped in at the near post to convert Craig Gardner's whipped delivery.

Following the equaliser, Villa never really looked likely to take a first half lead and with 29 minutes on the clock, French youngster Charles N'Zogbia gave Newcastle the lead for the second time in the match.

Former Villa player Nobby Solano saw his effort well saved by Sorensen before N'Zogbia reacted first to convert from close-range.

The visitors could have easily incresed their lead before the break but Shearer, Solano and Boumsong all missed guilt-edged chances to put the game beyond Villa's reach.

The second half was a different story altogether as Villa pushed forward and Newcastle camped in their own 18-yard box, content with their one goal advantage.

Gareth Barry had the first clear sight of the Newcastle goal in the second half but his effort was well blocked before it reached Given.

With more than an hour of the match remaining, O'Leary showed his attacking intentions as he replaced Phillips and Hendrie with Angel and Baros.

The two substitutes linked up well immediately as Angel played in Baros who fired straight at Given in the Newcastle goal.

With 62 minutes gone, the hosts were handed a golden opportunity to get back on level terms.

Celestine Babayaro hacked down Milan Baros in the box and as well as well as awarding the penalty, the referee deemed the defender to have been the last man and showed him the red card.

Milan Baros stepped up from the spot but his weak penalty was saved by Given as the visitors were let off the hook.

The remainder of the game was totally dominated by Villa but they simply couldn't find the net despite their hard work.

Juan Pablo Angel saw his dipping effort saved by Given before Liam Ridgewell was denied by the woodwork as his late header flew to safety after rattling the crossbar.