Newcastle Utd 1: Robert 45
Aston Villa 1: Dublin 10   McCann s/o 70

Final Update: 90mins (3pm kick off)

United: Given, Hughes, Bramble, S Caldwell, Bernard, Jenas, Speed, Bowyer, Robert, Shearer, Ameobi  Subs (not used): Solano, Harper, Ambrose, LuaLua, Dabizas 

Villa: Sorenesen, Delaney, Samuel, Barry, McCann, Dublin, Hitzlsperger, de la Cruz (Moore 51), Whiitingham, Angel (Allback 63), Johnsen  Subs (not used): Postma, Ridgewell, Kinsella

Referee: Matt Messias

Attendance: 51,975

ALAN Shearer was back in the starting line up for the visit of Aston Villa on Saturday after missing the defeat by West Brom on Wednesday.

He replaced Lomana Lua in attack, while Gary Speed and Lee Bowyer returned to midfield after missing the Carling Cup game in midweek, and Shay Given returned in goal.

Steve Caldwell kept his place at the heart of defence alongside Titus Bramble, Aaron Hughes replaced the unfit Andy Griffin at right back while Nikos Dabizas was on the bench for the first time this season.

Villa included former Sunderland duo Thomas Sorensen and Gavin McCann, while Dion Dublin played in defence with Olof Mellberg injured.

United started the half attacking the Leazes End, and Shearer dragged a shot wide from 18 yards after two minutes then Robert headed wide from Ameobi's cross a minute later.

Gareth Barry won a free kick for Villa 22 yards out in a central position on seven minutes after his initial shot was charged down, and when Hitzlesperger took the kick Bowyer was cautioned for encroaching. and the set piece was moved forward to the edge of the box.

The whole United team - bar Given - lined up in a wall on the edge of the six yard box, and Hitzlsperger's kick was fired straight at the wall.

The incident livened up the crowd, and Speed was next to go in the book on nine minutes for a foul as things got heated on the pitch.

Hitzlsperger's shot from 25 yards deflected off Caldwell for a corner, and when Barry swung the ball in Dublin rose above Caldwell to head home.

Delaney did well to get a toe to the ball a minute later as Shearer tried to get on the end of Ameobi's right wing cross, then claims for a spot kick were waved away when Johnsen tangled with Ameobi.

United won a corner following the incident, but Bramble's effort from Robert's flag kick was blocked and Villa cleared the danger.

Delaney fired a shot well wide of the target on 20 minutes, then Bowyer needed treatment after bieng caught by Hitzlsperger in midfield.

Sorensen made a fantastic save on 24 minutes, tipping over Shearer's header after Robert's cross into the middle when the skipper looked a certain scorer.

Ameobi was fouled on the byeline on 27 minutes to give Newcastle a free kick near the corner flag, but Robert's inswinger was cleared by Johnsen, then another free kick was awarded on the corner of the box two minutes later when Shearer was upended but Bowyer's shot from Robert's pass was weak.

As the game passed the half hour mark United continued to pres in search of an equaliser, and Robert tested Sorensen with a 20 yard right foot drive then Barry headed Hughes' cross away for a corner but Dublin then Barry cleared their lines.

Hitzlsperger's foul on Jenas earned the Villa midfielder a caution on 35 minutes, then Jenas fouled Delaney 30 yards out a minute later but Hitzlsperger's curler was easy for Given.

Jenas had a shot blocked after good work by Ameobi on 39 minutes, then when the ball fell to Shearer on the right side of the box his shot was deflected into the sidenetting. Robert swung the corner in, but Sorensen gathered two yards from his line.

Robert's cross from the othjer side a minute later was headed away for another corner but again the set piece came to nothing, and when Villa counter attacked Speed had to concede a corner at the other end which resulted in Hitzlsperger volleying the ball well off target.

A minute before the break Bowyer sent Hughes away down the right, but the full back's low cross was well smothered by Sorensen. A minute later Sorensen pushed out Bowyer's curler, and even though Jenas appeared to be tripped as he tried to latch onto the rebound the referee gave a corner.

United won another flag kick in first half stoppage time, but Angel cleared the danger after Dublin's miskick in the penalty area.

Seconds before the end of first half stoppage time, Robert levelled with superb half volley after Whittingham headed the ball into his path.

Villa won a free kick on the right five minutes into the second period when Bowyer was harshly adjudged to have fouled Whittingham, and when McCann took the kick Bramble got above Angel to head the ball away for a corner.

McCann's lunge at Bowyer in front of the dug outs on 57 minutes caused a bit of pushing and shoving from both sets of players, and when order resumed the former Sunderland was booked - then treated to some abuise from the Toon Army for his red and white links.

Some good play from Bowyer saw him sent Robert free on 59 minutes, but Sorensen blocked his angled rive and Villa cleared the rebound, then Shearer headed straight at Given from Bowyer's chipped cross.

Villa made a change just after the hour mark, with Angel making way for Swedish striker Marcus Allback as David O'Leary tried to liven up his attack.

Robert whipped in a cross moments later from the left that Sorensen had to parry away from his near post, then Whittingham headed Bernard's cross away to the edge of the box where Jenas fired wide. 

It was all Newcastle in the first 20 minutes of the second half, and Caldwell wemnt close to putting the home side ahead on 68 minutes when headed just wide from Robert's corner.

At the other end Given made a good block with his legs to deny Allback at the near post from Hitzelsperger's cross.

The game erupted on 70 minutes, when McCann picked up his second caution for another mistimed lunge at Robert 30 yards out. There was no doubt that the foul was worth at least a caution, but the midfielder was far from happy as he trooped off the pitch - unlike the home crowd who waved him off down the tunnel. 

Shearer's free kick was dragged wide, then Bramble fired wide from the back post after Caldwell flicked on Bowyer's corner, the Hughes lofted Bowyer's slide rule pass into the sidenetting from a tight angle.

United had another good chance on 78 minutes when Robert crossed into the middle, but Bowyer and Shearer got tangled up and the chance went begging.

A minute later Johnsen's late tackle on Bernard just outside of the area earned him a booking, but Robert's strike hit the wall and eventually went out for a corner. Another flag kick quickly followed as Newcastle turned the screw, and when the ball was whipped in Barry ws adjudged to have handled and United were awarded a penalty on 81 minutes.

Shearer stepped up to face Sorensen at the Gallowgate End where he famously missed one against Sunderland, and amazingly the the goalkeeper made an identical save, diving to his left to push the kick away.

Dublin did well to clear Robert's cross on 85 minutes, then Shearer flashed a header wide after getting ahead of Samuel to reach Bernard's cross.

United won a corner on 89 minutes when Hughes' cross deflected off Samuel, but Bramble's header from the back post didn't trouble Sorensen when Bowyer swung the ball across the box.

Three minutes of stoppage time were added, but despite winning three corners and piling on the pressure the home side could not find a way through Villa took a share of the spoils.