*Hendrie spikes Gullit’s start*

Villa paraded their new £6.75 million signing Paul Merson whose move was finalised too late for this game.

With Merson unavailable it was an inconvenient time for Stan Collymore to cry off with a recurrence of the ankle problem that kept him out of the first two games of the season. It meant that Riccardo Scimeca took on the role of emergency striker but such is the confidence underpinning Villa’s impressive start that the young England international slotted into the unfamiliar position with the minimum of fuss.

The aggression with which Villa sought to stop Newcastle establishing any momentum was another manifestation of the belief that has transformed the Midlanders since Gregory’s arrival. With Gullit’s team given little opportunity to find their rhythm Villa held sway convincingly in the early stages and were disappointed not to have an interval lead to show for their superiority.

It looked only a matter of time before Newcastle would be punished for their shortcomings in the air.

At the end of the first half Gareth Southgate was first to Thompson’s deep corner and instead of making the catch Given chose to fist the ball away, succeeding only in presenting Ugo Ehiogu with a chance that he headed narrowly too high.

The pattern remained the same with Ehiogu given time to meet Thompson’s free kick and challenge. The ball dropped into Mark Draper’s path with the Holte End preparing to acclaim the first goal. However, the ball was deflected wide of the upright.

Both Alan Shearer and his Swedish partner were forced to live on scraps, such was the poverty of the service from the Newcastle midfield. The pressure was relieved was when Gary Speed and the nimble Glass reached hopeful crosses but neither effort carried the power to trouble Mark Bosnich.

It was a clever lofted pass from Draper that won the game, Joachim gathering it and then, as he weighed up his options, taking a challenge from Stuart Pearce in the back.

After the penalty Newcastle, with Temuri Ketsbaia on from the bench and eager to show the new manager what he can do, made a huge effort to get back into the game but it was not enough.