Magpies wilt in Birmingham sun

My view of the game at Villa Park

Aston Villa 1-0 Newcastle

Alan Pardew described this game as "scruffy", and that is one of the more positive descriptions it could have been given.

Neither side can take any real credit from their displays. In truth it was two poor sides battling it out.

Newcastle can have their excuses. They were missing their top-scorer and captain, Kevin Nolan, main striker Shola Ameobi, key man Cheik Tiote, as well as the likes of Leon Best, Stephen Ireland, James Perch, Dan Gosling, Alan Smith, Kazenga Lua Lua and Hatem Ben Arfa.

They also lost star performer Andy Carroll and key squad member Wayne Routledge in the January transfer window, and all this added up to produce an inevitable display which lacked belief, bite and flair.

But Aston Villa can have no such excuses.

This is a team featuring key England players Darren Bent, Ashley Young and Stewart Downing, international defenders like Richard Dunne, James Collins and Luke Young and others who have tasted international football or are tipped for bright futures like Stiliyan Petrov, Gabriel Agbonlahor, Kyle Walker, Emile Heskey, Marc Albrighton, Robert Pires, Nigel Reo-Coker, Ciaran Clark, Brad Friedel and Jean Makoun.

They should be nowhere near the bottom three and this performance summed them up.

The only reason they beat Newcastle was because they were facing a poor, under-strength team. In truth, they didn't even deserve to win and only sneaked the three points thanks to a controversial free-kick.

The weather was apparently hotter than Spain in the UK this weekend.

And referee Stuart Attwell seemed to think he was officiating in Spain as he gave fouls for almost any tackle, culminating in him falling for Ashley Young's dive and penalising Joey Barton.

James Collins celebrates his winning goal

Young's free-kick was nodded in by James Collins, who was solid at the back for Villa, and the away side struggled from then on.

Any side would when missing their twelve-goal skipper, twelve-goal departed striker, lynchpin in midfield and next two top-scoring strikers.

The second string couldn't impose themselves on Villa but found themselves up against an equally poor side who just seem to be going through the motions under manager Gerard Houllier.

He has failed to get anything out of what is a very talented squad, and must be sacked whichever division they are in this summer.

He is out of touch with the modern game, as proved in his mistreatment of talented left-back Stephen Warnock, making him possibly the most archaic manager in the Premier League.

I could see them bringing in Rafael Benitez to replace him in the summer, but that is all for the future.

Neither side deserved to win the game - in fact, it could be argued both deserved to lose - and Newcastle didn't threaten to score the goal which would have earned them a point until the last five minutes.

Shefki Kuqi replaced the ineffective Nile Ranger - who made his first top-flight start - on 83 minutes and it was only then that the defensive duo of Richard Dunne and James Collins were given anything to think about.

Nile Ranger was easily dealt with by Villa's defenders

Ranger should have given Newcastle the lead, or at the very least made Brad Friedel make a challenging save, in the early exchanges but his tame shot went straight into the hands of Friedel.

The next real chance came after Kuqi's arrival, with Peter Lovenkrands heading a good chance over and then seeing a shot well saved by the feet of Brad Friedel, as the big Finnish striker's mere presence seemed to cause the home backline worries. Ryan Taylor also put a free-kick narrowly over right at the death.

Kuqi had been ready on the touchline for at least ten minutes prior to coming on, and it seems strange Pardew waited so long to introduce him.

He did more in the seven minutes plus stoppage time he had than Ranger did in 83 minutes, and ten more minutes against a tiring Villa defence could have made all the difference.

It was frustrating to see him there, ready, from 75 minutes onwards yet not brought on.

There were plenty of opportunities to do just that, with the ball going out of play numerous times, but Pardew just waited and waited and must now rue that decision.

Ranger had been unthreatening the entire game and there was nothing to suggest he was about to produce something. In truth he should have been collared on the hour mark.

Fans had been waiting to see him unleashed from the start all season after a number of impressive cameos, but now must understand why Chris Hughton and now Pardew see him as more of an impact player.

He is just too raw and doesn't have enough about him at the moment to justify a starting place. In a few years, once he has gained some strength and experience, he should be a valuable player.

This game almost mirrored the game played at Villa Park between the sides in 2009, which saw United relegated.

While it does not have the same repercussions as that fateful day, the flow of the game was remarkably similar and the roasting weather conditions, which saw the away fans shielding their eyes for much of the game, were there again.

It had the feel of an early-season game but both these sides have a lot of work still to do in the rest of this season.

Both should avoid relegation comfortably, but still need some more points on the board to make absolutely sure.

Villa and Newcastle both have some very winnable games coming up, but no games are easy at this stage of the season and neither should fall into the trap of thinking safety is already assured.

Ashley Young hardly endeared himself to the Newcastle fans with his performance.

Young went down whenever touched

He went to ground at every opportunity and referee Attwell fell for it every time. This was not a one-off and the day he gets his comeuppance can't come soon enough.

Newcastle may not have given their loyal away travelling much to cheer about during the game, but they stuck with the team in recognition of the clear effort made and in light of how under-strength they were.

Joey Barton and Peter Lovenkrands should be given credit for their actions after the game.

Both came over to the away fans, applauded them and threw their shirts into the crowd, showing players do appreciate their supporters and they are vital to the club's chances.

Most players do applaud the fans after the game, but others, notably Jose Enrique, can't get off the pitch soon enough.

Enrique has been a great player for Newcastle, both this season and last, but seemingly can't wait to leave the club.

Rumours are sweeping Tyneside today that a deal may already be done to take him to Liverpool in the summer. It is inevitable he will leave and the club should be looking for his replacement now.

Villa and Newcastle need major renovation to their squads in the summer if they survive in the Premier League, but Newcastle in particular are in dire need of investment.

This game magnified the problems they have, with four outfield youngsters taking their place on the bench. There is simply no depth to the squad and that must be rectified.

In truth, they probably need at least eight players to come in during the summer and should spend all of the £35million from the Andy Carroll sale to ensure the club can really push on.

Should Enrique leave, they will need a new left-back.

Stephen Warnock has been frozen out by Gerard Houllier since the turn of the year

Discarded Villa man Stephen Warnock may be just what they need. He has been consistently one of the best in his position in the league over the last few seasons, and the way he has been treated this season has been nothing short of a disgrace.

Shane Ferguson would be more than an able deputy for him and, long-term, he is the man who will replace Enrique.

At least one new centre-back will also be required.

Mike Williamson and Fabricio Coloccini have done fine jobs this season, and Steven Taylor is a good third-choice, but Sol Campbell has proved himself to be over the hill this season.

He should be released and a new man should be brought in, possibly someone like Wolves' Richard Stearman, to provide competition.

Danny Simpson has been good this season but needs some cover. James Perch is not good enough for the Premier League and should be let go in the summer, so someone is needed to provide competition.

Habib Beye could return to compete with Simpson: he was a good player for Newcastle and has been sidelined by Aston Villa. He left in acrimonious circumstances after the club's relegation but someone like him is needed to ensure Simpson is kept on his toes.

A new left-winger would also be a welcome addition.

Jonas Gutierrez produced his best form this season when Hatem Ben Arfa was challenging him, and needs some competition to get the best out of him.

Similarly, Joey Barton does not have much competition on the right after Wayne Routledge's departure.

My choice would be to bring Routledge back, but if that is not possible, Kazenga Lua Lua could be promoted as he is more than good enough to step up to the Premier League.

There are a lot of central midfielders on Newcastle's books but most are unavailable at the moment.

If they can get themeslves fit and firing for next season, particularly the likes of Dan Gosling, then Newcastle are well-equipped in that area.

Finally, at least two new strikers are needed.

Andy Carroll's departure has left a gaping hole in the strikeforce, with Shola Ameobi and Peter Lovenkrands decent but not getting any younger, Shefki Kuqi too old to get a new deal and Nile Ranger simply too raw.

Carlton Cole has been repeatedly linked and could lead the line well, while Craig Bellamy is rumoured to be the pacy striker Alan Pardew wants, but I don't think either of those will come in.

Instead, youngsters are more likely.

Shane Long has been in great form for Reading this season

People like Shane Long from Reading and unearthed talents from abroad are the types of players the current regime seems to bring in, and it is unlikely this policy will change now.

It would be a major gamble to go with inexperience next season.

But Mike Ashley is a gambler, and will be more than happy to dice with the club's future by keeping his money in his pockets again.

This was my sixth away trip of the season, of which I've seen a grand total of no wins, one draw and five losses.

I've seen two away wins out of 17, and am going to Liverpool in May.

Don't expect anything out of that game, Newcastle fans.