Newcastle suffered a 1-0 loss against Aston Villa to confirm their relegation from the Premier League.

Duff own-goal confirms Magpies' relegation to the Championship

Newcastle United suffered a 1-0 defeat against Aston Villa to confirm their relegation from the Premier League on Sunday. During a feisty opening, the Magpies, with striker Michael Owen on the substitutes' bench, had chances to hand their survival hopes a much-needed fillip but they were guilty of profligacy in front of goal. News then filtered to interim Toon manager Alan Shearer of fellow relegation candidates Hull City losing, meaning Newcastle were set to preserve their 16-year stay in England's top flight if they could at least hold on in the Midlands. However, the Tyneside club were dealt a sucker punch on 38 minutes when Gareth Barry's powerful but wayward shot cruelly deflected off stand-in left-back Damien Duff to wrong-foot goalkeeper Steve Harper. An onslaught on Villa's goal was expected in the second half as the Magpies aimed to save themselves, but it was not to be as they created very little and, before David Edgar received a second yellow card, the final whistle confirmed their demotion to the Championship.

Shearer

Now Shearer has to decide whether he wants to take on the task of trying to help the Magpies regain their top flight status and is due to have talks with owner Mike Ashley early next week. For Villa they can look back on another season of progression despite a late fade-out after automatically qualifying for Europe for the first time in 11 years. But Martin O'Neill will need to add further quality and quantity to his squad in the summer if he is to seriously challenge for a UEFA Champions League place. Before the kick-off Villa fans gave an emotional send-off to skipper and central defender Martin Laursen, who has been forced to retire because of a knee problem. Gabriel Agbonlahor came close to giving Villa the lead after only two minutes when he powered a header over the bar from close range following a left-wing centre by Barry. Villa dominated the early stages and knocked the ball around in confident style - but Brad Friedel was called upon to make the first meaningful save when he deflected a low drive from Duff around the post after he appeared to be initially unsighted. Villa defender Carlos Cuellar then came to his side's rescue when he blocked a shot on the turn from Steven Taylor on the line. Obafemi Martins volleyed powerfully over the bar from 12 yards out after good play by Mark Viduka, before Harper reacted quickly to turn over a powerful drive from Craig Gardner. Newcastle defender Taylor became the first player to be yellow carded after 34 minutes for bringing down Agbonlahor 30 yards out. Milner's free-kick went straight through the defensive wall but Harper was alert to the situation and able to save at the foot of a post. The decisive goal came after Nicky Butt conceded a corner, appearing to indicate Harper had not given him a call.

Heartbreak

The danger appeared to have been averted when Taylor headed out Ashley Young's centre - but Stiliyan Petrov headed the ball back to Barry, whose fierce shot struck Duff and completely wrong-footed Harper before finding the corner of the net. Agbonlahor nearly doubled Villa's lead when his flick from John Carew's centre flew just wide of the far post - but Martins almost levelled in injury-time when he headed wide from Butt's free-kick. Villa began the second half on the attack and Harper was forced to fingertip away an in-