Caretaker boss Glenn Roeder saw his Newcastle side make it two wins out of two with victory over Aston Villa.

The visitors took the lead when Shola Ameobi picked up Alan Shearer’s pass to slide the ball under Thomas Sorensen.

Villa equalised when Luke Moore nipped in to head home, but Charles N’Zogbia restored Newcastle’s advantage.

Celestine Babayaro was sent off in the second half for a tackle on Villa’s Milan Baros, but his subsequent penalty was kept out by Shay Given.

For Newcastle fans, the satisfaction gained from the performance, under Roeder’s temporary leadership, would have even outweighed that from getting the three points.

It took them just one minute and 14 seconds to open the scoring.

Ameobi, who put in an outstanding display alongside Shearer in attack, latched on to a first-time pass from his strike partner and calmly slotted the ball past former Sunderland keeper Sorensen.

Villa bounced back against the run of play when Moore grabbed his fourth goal in four games, sneaking in at the near post to glance home Barry’s whipped in free-kick.

But it was Newcastle rather than the home side who dominated the rest of the half.

N’Zogbia, their promising teenager, put his side back in front when he picked up the pieces after Solano’s shot was brilliantly saved by Sorensen.

Newcastle pressed for more, with Peter Ramage, Alain Boumsong, Solano and Shearer all spurning golden opportunities.

The second half was a different affair altogether however, with Villa dominating from the off and unlucky not to take at least one of their chances.

Baros wasted the best opportunity, sliding his penalty to Given’s left, but with little pace giving the Irish keeper all the time in the world to make a low save.

Liam Ridgewell headed fractionally wide and against the crossbar, while Baros again, Kevin Phillips and Juan Pablo Angel also wasted decent situations during a thrilling last 20 minutes.

*Villa boss David O’Leary:*

“I don’t know how we lost that game. We gifted them two goals, but we dominated the second half.

“Our striker Milan Baros missed the penalty. People miss them, but penalties are there to put away.

“Good luck to Newcastle United but it was a lucky day for them at Villa Park on Saturday.”

*Newcastle caretaker manager Glenn Roeder:*

“I’ll say something controversial for once. What David O’Leary said is a bit spiteful.

“I thought Villa were very lucky to be only 2-1 down at half-time.

“In the second half we headed out their crosses and is it luck that Given saves the penalty? Our boys need some credit, this was an excellent victory.”