New owner Randy Lerner made his first appearance in the directors' box sat next to outgoing chairman Doug Ellis.



And it was smiles all round as Villa sustained their impressive start to the season against Glen Roeder's Toon.

With major transfer activity not expected until the January transfer window, O'Neill's initial assault on the Premiership will be undertaken with much the same squad David O'Leary failed so miserably with.

The match began in explosive fashion, Luke Moore firing a low shot into the corner of the net from the edge of the penalty area.

The young Villa striker shows great promise and is starting to endear himself to the Villa Park faithful.

Newcastle fought back and enjoyed spells of possession, though it was Villa who doubled their lead on the half hour when Juan Pablo Angel danced his way past Shay Given and stroked the ball into an empty net.

The Columbian took his goal well and is relishing his opportunity as main striker in the absence of Czech hit man Milan Baros.

Newcastle started brightly after the break, but things took a turn for the worse when front man star signing Martins went down clutching his knee.

Having used his three substitutes the unfortunate Roeder could only sit and watch as United played the remainder of the match with only ten men.

The extra man made life easier for Villa and Moore almost took advantage in the final minutes with a vicious strike that cannoned off the crossbar.

A happy Martin O'Neill said after the match "I've done absolutely nothing at all.

"These players have done it themselves and, in fact, they keep me going to be perfectly honest.

"There is a good spirit within them and they want to play."