Aston Villa 4-1 Newcastle

Feb 10 2008 James Cairns Reports

KEVIN KEEGAN saw Aston Villa's John Carew hit a second-half hat-trick to sink Newcastle 4-1 - and then admitted his players were too easily knocked about.

The born-again boss saw his team throw away a half-time lead after Michael Owen put them ahead.

And he raged after the match: "We were getting bullied, especially by Carew and Marlon Harewood. They were basically doing what they wanted to do with us at times.

"That was the disappointing aspect and that is what I told the players."

Keegan added: "I had no complaints about the first half at all. I said to the players we had built a good platform from which to go on and win a football match."

But it was not to be and Carew turned the game around within five minutes of the restart.

And the big striker hailed Martin O'Neill's half-time introduction of substitute Harewood for Villa's win. Carew said: "Marlon came on and gave us an extra lift with his power and enthusiasm.

"Then we started to create chances all the time so it was fantastic."

Carew was also grateful captain Gareth Barry allowed him to take the late penalty that saw him seal his hat-trick.

"The captain's supposed to take the penalties but he said I should take it and go for the hat-trick and I'm grateful for that," said Carew.

"Normally I don't smash them but I decided to smash it high to make sure it went in."

Newcastle went ahead in four minutes courtesy of Owen's second goal in two games - a goal that moved him up to seventh in the all-time list of Premier League scorers James Milner delivered an inviting cross towards the near post.

Owen and Steven Taylor attacked the ball but it was the England striker who got the crucial touch with a goal-bound header which brushed off Barry on its way to the net.

But three minutes after the break Wilfred Bouma brought the Holte End to its feet with his first goal for Villa after nearly three years at the club when he side-footed home a Shaun Maloney cross.

Then three minutes later Carew put Villa in front with his seventh goal of the campaign. Ashley Young's inswinging corner was met by the giant Norwegian whose glancing header flew in.

Carew ran away to celebrate with the Villa fans and was promptly booked.

With 18 minutes left, Carew struck for the second time to put Villa 3-1 ahead.

Maloney's shot from a Young corner was deflected across goal and there was a scramble before Carew headed home.

Then with seconds remaining Carew completed his hattrick from the penalty spot after Stephen Carr handled.

Villa boss O'Neill was delighted with Carew's display - but challenged him to produce that form on a more consistent basis.

"John showed the kind of form he is capable of, he was unplayable in the second half," O'Neill said.

"What we want to do now is put the averages up.

"That type of performance every time would be great."