Milner makes Villa pay for ignoring him

James Milner, pictured 01 January 2007, a player who almost joined Aston Villa at the start of the season, played a significant role in their 3-1 defeat by Newcastle United in an action-packed Premier League meeting at St James' Park.

James Milner, a player who almost joined Aston Villa at the start of the season, played a significant role in their 3-1 defeat by Newcastle United in an action-packed Premier League meeting at St James' Park.

Milner, who spent last season on loan at Villa, was unhappy when a proposed permanent move to the club broke down at the last minute in August.

But he has since flourished at Newcastle and scored for the third game in succession to send Glenn Roeder's team on the way to their first home win in five matches.

Milner also created the second goal for Kieron Dyer as Newcastle surged ahead in the opening seven minutes of a match that provided superb entertainment for a crowd of 49,201.

Villa contributed immensely as they fought back through a goal from their new signing Ashley Young and went on to create a string of opportunities before French substitute Antonine Sibierski scored Newcastle's third goal in stoppage time.

It was harsh on Villa, who deserved a point, but there was still plenty to delight their manager Martin O'Neill, not least the debut of John Carew, the Norwegian international striker signed from Lyon.

Carew settled in quickly, although he did not enjoy the opening stages as Newcastle began the game in a manner designed to impress Oguchi Onyewu, the United States international who has joined Newcastle from Standard Liege until the end of season.

The 24-year-old defender watched from the stands and witnessed a remarkable opening seven minutes from his new team-mates.

Newcastle's opener came in the fifth minute as Milner, who is specialising in spectacular goals, scored for the third successive game.

Villa clearly failed to sense any danger when he collected the ball nearly 50 yards from goal, but Milner eluded Gavin McCann's challenge and tricked Gary Cahill with a neat piece of footwork before powering a left-foot shot past Thomas Sorensen.

Milner was also involved two minutes later as Newcastle extended their lead when he linked well with Nicky Butt before producing a first-time cross that was glanced in superbly by Dyer's head.

Even with Stilian Petrov restored to their midfield after a hamstring problem, Villa devoid of ideas until Young, whose move from Watford could eventually cost more than 9 million pounds, gave them hope with a goal after 25 minutes.

Uncertainty at further corners gave Young another chance that was well saved by keeper Steve Harper and provided McCann an opportunity that he drove over the bar from a good position near the penalty spot.

The balance of power had certainly shifted since Young's goal and his fellow-debutant John Carew almost hit the target with a 36th minute header against the bar before forcing another save from Harper in the final stages of a pulsating first-half.

The opening moments of the second-half suggested there would be more goals, with Harper, standing in for the injured Shay Given, forced to make another alert save to beat out a close-range header from Gabriel Agonlahor.

And Villa looked the team most likely to score them as Carew showed he will not need any time to adapt to the pace of the Premiership.

The striker became increasingly influential and set up a chance that Gareth Barry lobbed against the bar before heading past Harper in the 57th minute that was harshly disallowed by referee Howard Webb.