Magpies soar on back of Martins double

Obafemi Martins scored both goals as Newcastle United climbed off the bottom of the Premier League table with a 2-0 win against Aston Villa at St James' Park here Monday.

Their second successive victory saw the Magpies rise out of the bottom three and into 14th place to go above local rivals Sunderland on goal difference.

But even after this result they are still only a point above the relegation zone.

Nigeria international Martins struck on the hour mark from outside the box before making the game safe for the hosts seven minutes from time when he netted from close range following Jonas Gutierrez's fine run and cross.

Victory would have seen Villa go above champions Manchester United and into third spot. But instead they remained in fifth place after suffering their third league defeat of the season.

Earlier Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given, making his 450th club appearance, had saved well from Ashley Young and Villa's Martin Laursen saw a header come back off the outside of the post.

But former Manchester United midfielder Nicky Butt came close to opening the scoring for Newcastle when a free-kick hit the woodwork.

The deadlock was broken with half an hour left when Joey Barton, fortunate to escape punishment for what appeared to be a foul on John Carew, played the ball to Martins.

Despite having his back to goal, the striker turned sharply before letting fly with a low shot that beat diving Villa keeper Brad Friedel.

Gutierrez set up the second when, after a superb sprint down the left wing, his cross found Martins, who'd cleverly hung back before dashing into the six-yard box, and the forward made no mistake from barely a yard out.