*Papiss Cisse scored his 11th goal of the season to give Newcastle manager John Carver his first home win and leave Aston Villa in the bottom three.*

Senegal striker Cisse fired a low shot beyond Brad Guzan from eight yards after Daryl Janmaat’s cross.

Tom Cleverley missed Villa’s best chance before Ayoze Perez hit the post with a header for Newcastle.

The Midlanders have lost their last seven league fixtures.

Tim Sherwood took charge at Aston Villa on 14 February but has not collected a point from his two matches in charge.

Villa have now gone six away matches without scoring a goal. They remain in the relegation zone and five of their remaining league fixtures are against teams in the current top eight.

Striker Christian Benteke has not registered in his last nine games, although the Belgium international posed Villa’s greatest threat in the early stages.

He sent a snap shot wide of the near post from the edge of the area after Ashley Westwood’s long pass, then forced Tim Krul into a save with a spectacular overhead kick from 15 yards.

Villa enjoyed periods of controlled possession but Newcastle created better chances.

The home team took the lead against the run of play when Janmaat’s cross from the right was allowed to reach Cisse and the Senegal striker took a touch before beating Brad Guzan.

Jonas Gutierrez was part of the Newcastle squad for the first time since recovering from testicular cancer but the Argentina international was an unused substitute.

Villa looked vulnerable when defending crosses and Cisse and Emmanuel Riviere both headed chances wide from Sammy Ameobi deliveries.

Tom Cleverley has not scored since joining Villa on loan from Manchester United but came close to an equaliser.
Benteke’s flick-on from Ciaran Clark’s long ball was well controlled by Cleverley but the midfielder’s shot was well blocked by Krul.

Newcastle had Fabricio Coloccini to thank for preserving their lead as the captain blocked Benteke’s header after Krul failed to punch away Westwood’s corner.

At the other end, Newcastle’s Perez headed against the outside of the post after Brad Guzan could not make full contact when attempting to clear a delivery from a corner.

The defeat leaves Villa, who last suffered relegation in 1986-87, in deep trouble at the wrong end of the table.