Aston Villa missed an early
penalty and paid the price as Andy Carroll hit a hat-trick as
Newcastle hammered the managerless Midlanders 6-0 at St James’s
Park.
The Toon registered their first win back in the top flight in
the most emphatic of ways with three goals in each half.
The visitors could have taken a 10th minute lead when Ashley
Young was felled by Steve Harper in the box, but John Carew blasted
the resulting penalty miles over the bar.
Just two minutes later and the goal avalanche began. Joey Barton
struck a 22 yard effort into the top left-hand corner.
Kevin Nolan then hit a brace (31, 87) but it was Carroll who
stole the show with a fine hat-trick (34, 67, 90) to send St James'
Park into raptures.
Newcastle boss Chris Hughton admitted he was shocked at the
scoreline: "I couldn't have forecast this, no.
“We expected a very tough game, but once we got the first goal
that lifted any fears we might have had and we played some very
good attacking football, managed to keep it going and score some
very good goals.
“The quality and intensity of our play was too much for
them."
Aston Villa caretaker boss
Kevin MacDonald took full responsibility for the result: "Maybe I
was a bit naive with the team I selected so I'll take the blame for
what happened against a decent Newcastle team.
“Marc Albrighton ran out of steam and they played him very well
and Ciaran Clark had a knock, so maybe I was wrong to play
them."