AND they said that Graeme Souness had restored discipline to Newcastle. An astonishing afternoon on Tyneside that began as a tribute to Alan Shearer and degenerated into an embarrassing defeat for his beloved side, ended in a humiliating controversy for the club’s manager when Kieron Dyer and Lee Bowyer were sent off for engaging in what amounted to a pub brawl in front of the referee, Barry Knight.

The Newcastle manager stood in stunned silence on the touchline as Dyer made his way up the tunnel, while Bowyer, shirt ripped almost to the waist, quickly followed. If the manager was angry about the three goals his team had conceded, two of them penalties by Gareth Barry, it is now surely the least of his worries. The earlier dismissal of substitute Steven Taylor for handball meant that Newcastle had been reduced to eight men, an ignominy that will cost the club in suspensions.

Souness later complained that Knight had denied Newcastle a penalty when there was only one goal in it, but that was to deflect from his team’s ragged performance. Two of the three goals were attributable to needless mistakes, the first by Jermaine Jenas, the second by Nicky Butt, and they had only themselves to blame for such a spectacular end to their 12-match unbeaten run.

It was an afternoon on which the intention was to celebrate a player who, in a few short days, had gone from the brink of retirement to player-coach and manager-in-waiting. At one point Shearer closed down the Aston Villa goalkeeper, Thomas Sorensen, with such enthusiasm that he damaged the Dane’s ankle. At least he had the sense to make sure that his victim was not a teammate.

With Amdy Faye restricted to a place among the substitutes, the recent protection he has offered Newcastle’s back four was missing, and there were alarming signs that the team’s former defensive frailties had returned. For longer than David O’Leary cares to remember, Villa have been depending on a solitary forward, so depleted have been their resources. This time, though, they welcomed back Darius Vassell and Juan Pablo Angel to the fold, and the partnership quickly demonstrated what the team has been missing.

Angel, recovered from a troublesome ankle injury, made an immediate impact. When Newcastle’s central defenders misjudged a cross by Steve Davis, the clearing header by Jenas was too weak and the Colombian striker crisply volleyed into the net.

It was a first half for Jenas to forget, especially given that it marked his return from a long absence. At the other end, he scooped over the bar a free kick by Laurent Robert and just before the interval sliced wide, spoiling what had been a breathtaking surge and pass by Dyer.

Always, though, the suspicion was that the second goal would be Villa’s. With their every attack creating jitters in Newcastle’s defence and Andy O’Brien looking distinctly uncomfortable in the middle, Barry was twice unfortunate not to score.

Villa’s verve and Newcastle’s negligence made for an open match, replete with chances at both ends. The home side’s fragility at the back was confirmed by Jean-Alain Boumsong’s failure to deal with Angel when he burst into the box and pulled his shot wide. It was, however, the Frenchman’s first mistake and when Taylor emerged from the bench, it was O’Brien who made way.

Bowyer, whose first-half shot had been blocked by Sorensen, inspired a better save when his rising drive, after a one-two with Shearer, required every inch of the goalkeeper’s fingers. Newcastle, though, will be more frustrated that a series of penalty claims did not produce a single award, with Taylor and Butt both tumbling in the box, and Jlloyd Samuel handling at the far post.

Instead, the spot-kick would be given at the other end, and Newcastle were in no position to complain. Butt, compounding fears that Faye may be a better option in the anchor role, was guilty of a dreadful slip that allowed Vassell to home in on goal. The striker rounded goalkeeper Shay Given, and his shot struck Taylor’s arm. Taylor was ordered off before Barry drilled his penalty straight down the middle.

Villa’s fans were already chanting “easy, easy”, when the referee pointed to the spot again. This time full-back Stephen Carr was the culprit, flooring Vassell, and despite claims that the offence had been committed outside the area, Barry scored again. The controversy, though, was only just beginning.

STAR MAN: Gareth Barry (Aston Villa)

Player ratings. Newcastle: Given 6, Carr 6, Boumsong 6, O’Brien (Taylor 52min, 3), Hughes 6, Jenas 6, Butt 6, Bowyer 3, Robert 6, Shearer 6, Dyer 3

Aston Villa: Sorensen 6, Delaney 6, Mellberg 6 (Ridgewell h-t, 6), Laursen 6, Samuel 6, Hendrie 6, Davis 6, Hitzlsperger 6, Barry 7, Angel 6, Vassell 6

Scorers: Aston Villa: Angel 5, Barry 73 80 (pens)

Referee: B Knight

Attendance: 52,306

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