Good afternoon and welcome to LIVE coverage of Newcastle United against Aston Villa from the Sports Direct Arena in the Premier League.

Lambert looking very much like Martin O'Neill in the visiting technical area. Plenty of pointing of his fingers and cajoling of his troops.

Ben Arfa gets a header on target from Anita's cross. Plenty of punch on the header, but a comfortable save by Guzan in the goal.

Decent play by Ireland before Weimann knocks it out of play. Poor, sloppy play.

Bent sees a shot charged down as Villa continue their promising start to the second period. A real bite about some of these Villa challenges today.

Villa lead at half-time for the third time in their last eight Premier League away matches. They have failed to turn the other two in victories (both ended up 1-1; at Liverpool in April, and Blackburn in March).

Ben Arfa decides to try his luck from 35 yards, but he blasts that shot well wide of goal. A bit ambitious and then some.

Newcastle struggling to get the ball out of their box as Villa win another corner to be floated in by Bannan. Demba Ba gets it clear before Krul plucks a cross out of the air.

Taylor forced to knock the ball behind in his own goal for a corner after some decent work by Holman.

We are off and running in this second period. Newcastle get the action started.

There goes the whistle for the break! A 1-0 lead for the visitors. Work to be done by Newcastle in the second period.

Cisse nods wide of goal from Anita's cross ball. Villa for once caught out in defence, but they survive that scare. Should head for the break with the lead.

Anita drops a cross well out of the park from wide of the right. Really poor delivery and we are almost at the half-time mark here.

Wiemann prods a lob over the head of Krul, but just wide of the goal. That would have been some finish if he had got that on target.

An offside flag goes up against Cisse. Vlaar steps up to play him offside.

Ciaran Clark scores Villa's 46th Premier League goal by an Irishman, overtaking Wales's 45 goals for the club. Of all non-English nationalities scoring for Villa only Trinidad & Tobago have more - 62.

Pardew has lost his jacket. Warm day on Tyneside as Ba thumps a raking long range effort into the arms of Guzan, who continues to cut a steady figure.

Lowton taken out of the game late by Santon and that will be a free-kick to the visitors that Guzan can thump long down the park.

Cisse sets up Demba Ba with a header down. Ba screws the shot wide of goal. Was never really threatening the goal from that angle.

Bigirimana has been wheeled on to take over from the injured Simpson. Villa on the ball again as they try to keep the door shut before the break.

Looks like Simpson has run his race for the day. Alan Pardew giving Demba Ba a few words of encouragement. Newcastle will have to shuffle their pack here.

Simpson is on the deck and in need of some treatment here. Doesn't look too clever here. May be a hamstring strain.