A first-half goal from Papiss Cisse secured Newcastle’s first win in three games with a 1-0 victory over a struggling Aston Villa.

There was good chances for Daryl Janmaat and Christian Benteke in the first 20 minutes before Cisse gave the home side the lead eight minutes before half-time. Villa continued to dominate the game with Tom Cleverley, Andres Weimann and Charles N’Zogbia all coming close in the second half but couldn’t get an equaliser,

John Carver's side started brightly with Janmaat’s effort on goal just blocked in the ninth minute. Christian Benteke had a good opportunity in the 23rd minute when he received the ball in the left side of the area, but his effort went just wide of the mark. The Belgian had another opportunity four minutes later but Tim Krul got down well to prevent the shot going into the bottom corner. The Dutch keeper was called into action again in the 33rd minute when he saved Scott Sinclair’s shot from Ashley Westwood’s pass.

Newcastle took the lead totally against the run of play in the 37th minute, Janmaat crossed the ball into the area which fell to Cisse in the centre of the area and he hit a shot into the bottom left corner. Emmanuel Riviere nearly made it two five minutes later but his effort was just wide.

Gabriel Agbonlahor came close to equalising early in the second half when he attempted a shot from outside of the area which went just wide. Cisse came close to getting his second when he headed Sami Ameobi’s cross towards goal but it went just wide. Ameobi himself came close seconds later but his shot from outside the box was blocked.

Loanee midfielder Cleverley’s effort came close in the 61st minute when hit Benteke’s headed pass but Krul got down well to save. Michael Williamson almost got the second when he headed Riviere’s cross towards the top right-hand corner but Brad Guzan did well to save it. The American was called upon again in the 75th minute when he got down to save Ryan Taylor’s effort.

Weimann could have grabbed a point for his side with nine minutes to play when his shot was blocked after Benteke’s pass. N’Zogbia had the final opportunity of the match when he had a shot from outside of the area in injury time but it was too high and the opportunity for a draw went amiss.

Newcastle did well to survive an onslaught from their opponents and gather the three points and this much needed win will help Caver’s cause to gain the hot seat at St James’ Park on a permanent basis. Tim Sherwood will go away from this game disappointed considering Aston Villa had the majority of the chances but will take comfort in knowing that they have shown more attacking prowess which has been heavily lacking so far this campaign. 

Newcastle (1) Aston Villa (0)
       
Krul 6 Guzan 5
Janmaat 6 Hutton 5
Williamson  5 Okore 5
Coloccini 6 Clark 5
Haidara 5 Lowton 6
Obertan  5 Cleverley  5
Abeid 5 Westwood 5
Sissoko  6 Delph 5
Ameobi  6 Agbonlahor  6
Cisse 6 Benteke 6
 Riviere  5 Sinclair 6
Substitution
 Gouffran 5 N'Zogbia 6
 Taylor 5  Weinmann 5
 Perez  5  Bacuna 5
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About the author
Danial  Kennedy
Award-winning sports journalism graduate. Currently studying a PR Masters at the University of Sunderland. Writing for VAVEL since August 2014. Twitter - @ddkjournalism.