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August 23, 2010

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Villa wilts as Magpies join goal-fest

ANDY Carroll helped himself to a hat-trick as Newcastle United stunned Aston Villa 6-0 to mark a memorable home return to the English Premier League yesterday.

Two goals from midfielder Kevin Nolan and another from Joey Barton ensured a third 6-0 victory of the weekend following Chelsea's win over Wigan Athletic and Arsenal's thumping win over Blackpool and the fourth of the new season.

Carroll, the England Under-21 international striker, staked his claim for inclusion in manager Fabio Capello's plans for the senior side with an outstanding performance to the delight of the watching Tyneside scoring hero Alan Shearer in the stands.

Villa wasted a golden opportunity to go ahead when John Carew skied a penalty high over the bar after 10 minutes and soon after last season's Championship (second division) winner took control.

Barton fired home an angled shot after 12 minutes before Nolan headed in at the second attempt just after the half-hour mark and Carroll made it three for the Magpies minutes later.

Carroll blasted in the fourth on 67 minutes with another Nolan header and a neat stoppage-time finish from Carroll sealing Newcastle's first points of the season following its opening 0-3 defeat by Manchester United last Monday.

Villa, which started the season with an encouraging 3-0 win over West Ham United last week, rarely threatened and the hopes of caretaker coach Kevin MacDonald getting the job fulltime following the shock resignation of Martin O'Neill before the season began were not helped by his team's performance.

Manchester United were playing at Fulham later.

On Saturday, Nicolas Anelka and Salomon Kalou netted twice as Chelsea, which opened the season with a 6-0 win over West Bromwich Albion, took its total to 20 goals in three league games including the last-day 8-0 win, also against Wigan, in May.

Theo Walcott was Arsenal's hero, scoring a hat-trick in his best all-round performance for years while Blackpool paid a heavy price for having defender Ian Evatt sent off after 31 minutes.

"What was pleasing today with Theo was that he made the right decisions in the final third and was calm in front of goal," Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said. "He could finish but also give final balls. That shows he has improved."

Gareth Bale hit two goals, the second a brilliant top-corner volley from a tough angle, as Tottenham Hotspur won 2-1 at Stoke City.

The Londoners were helped by a controversial late decision that denied Stoke an equalizer when the referee ruled a Jon Walters header was not over the line before Peter Crouch cleared the ball.

In other games on Saturday, Bolton Wanderers won 3-1 at West Ham, Birmingham City beat Blackburn Rovers 2-1 and promoted West Brom edged Sunderland 1-0. Everton was held 1-1 at home by Wolverhampton Wanderers.

When promoted Blackpool beat Wigan in its first game in the top flight for almost 40 years last week it was 3-0 up by halftime but at the Emirates it trailed by the same score at the break and was a man down.

Blackpool coach Ian Holloway was full of praise for the victors. "They are fantastic players, the way they try and play, pass and move is an education to watch," he said.





 

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