Tempers flare on the Tyne

JOHN Beresford was the unlikely hero as ten-man Newcastle left Brian Little's Aston Villa firmly planted at the bottom of the Premiership.

The defender smashed home a brilliant goal 13 minutes into this explosive game which saw the home side left playing the final 37 minutes short-handed after the dismissal of David Batty.

Batty was dismissed after his second bookable offence. He sent Steve Staunton flying as he mistimed a lunging tackle near his right touchline. And he had already been booked five minutes before the break for a clash with Stan Collymore.

Faustino Asprilla failed to arrive for St James' Park's second Premiership game of the season after getting caught up in an internal air traffic controllers dispute back in Colombia.

Kenny Dalglish was forced into giving Welsh international lan Rush his debut for Newcastle after his signing from Leeds United.

However, it wasn't such a good day for former Liverpool midfielder John Barnes. The 33-year-old picked up a knock in training on Wednesday and played no part in the game.

Jon Dahl Tomasson was also missing from the starting line-up, the Dane was left on the bench with Keith Gillespie making his first start of the season.

Asprilla arrived five minutes after the start and sat in the main stand along with England coach Hoddle.

It was all United as they searched for an opener with Rush and Temur Ketsbaia lively and wing backs Steve Watson and John Beresford looking very dangerous.

So it came as no surprise, after Belgian defender Philippe Albert had missed a great ninth minute opportunity when he fired well over after fine play by Watson down the right, that United took the lead.

And as in United's recent Champions' League foray, once again it was Beresford who was the hero. The former Portsmouth defender smashed home an unstoppable 13th minute effort for his third goal of the season his first in the Premiership.

Picking up a loose ball 22 yards out he looked up and then fired a great left foot effort home off the underside of Mark Bosnich's crossbar.

The Aussie keeper. making his first appearance of the season, had no chance.

Villa hit back and both of their former Liverpool stars Collymore and Steve Staunton went close with spectacular efforts from outside the box.

Five minutes before the break Batty and Collymore were booked for an unsightly scuffle outside the United penalty box something which would cost the home midfielder dear 13 minutes on.

From the resultant free kick Rush made a 70-yard break out and when he pulled the ball back, Ketsbaia fired a fine low effort which Bosnich saved well diving to his left.

Dwight Yorke should have equalised as early as the second mounted of the second half but he fired weakly wide when clear ten yards out.

Villa, well prompted by Draper and Staunton, produced most of the second half pressure but the luck seemed to be on the home team’s side.

After Batty’s 53rd minute dismissal Dalglish replaced Ketsbaia with Warren Barton who took up a midfield role.

In a fiery game, seven yellow cards and one red as shown. United’s Albert and Ketbaia were booked along with Villa’s Ehiogu, Collymore and Southgate.