Goals from Hatem Ben Arfa and Yoan Gouffran were enough to give Newcastle United an important 2-1 away victory over Aston Villa in the Premier League.
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Newcastle had Fabriccio Coloccini to thank early on when the centre-back did well to stop Gabriel Agbonlahor, who looked to find space down the right and get in behind the Newcastle defence.
The away side then took their first real opportunity of the game to take the lead when Ben Arfa converted from six yards after latching onto a deflected low cross from Loic Remy.
Villa had the opportunity to bring things level just before the break when Matthew Lowton whipped a ball into the box for Antonio Luna, who was only able to hit the side-netting.
Villa hit back midway through the second half when Christian Benteke headed in Ashley Westwood's corner, after Tim Krul had come rushing out into no man's land and allowed the Belgian striker to level the scores with ease.
However, the equaliser was to prove irrelevant as Ben Arfa continued to cause havoc in the Villa defence.
The winger was involved in Newcastle's winner as he tested Brad Guzan from distance, with the goalkeeper only able to parry to the waiting Gouffran, who tapped in to give Alan Pardew's side victory.
Christopher Dodd
