Carew cooks up a storm

Last updated : 09 February 2008 By Tom Vickers
Michael Owen may have been the man in the spotlight before the game, but it was his fellow number 10 that stole the show. Big John Carew grabbed a second half hat-trick to wreck Kevin Keegan's hopes of a first victory.
Owen had put Newcastle ahead early on as he headed past Scott Carson from a corner. The diminutive striker was out to prove Fabio Capello wrong after he was dropped for England in mid-week and the goal was a perfect response.
Villa threatened little as Stiliyan Petrov and Olof Mellberg failed to make any sort of impression on the right side. Their frustration resulted in a verbal confrontation and they were both hauled off at half time.
The only effort from the Claret and Blue in the first half came from Gareth Barry, but his shot was blocked by what looked like the arm of Joey Barton. The protests were waved away and a lacklustre 45 minutes was brought to a close with a chorus of Holte End boos.
Prior to the game, the sight of a chef pacing up and down the sidelines could be seen from the stands. It was reminiscent of the way that Martin O'Neill monitors the match from the touchline.
The Villa boss must have taken a recipe from the cook book of his alter ego at half time because the home side were revitalised after the break.
The introduction of Marlon Harewood and Craig Gardner finally saw Villa cooking on gas and their impact was almost immediate.
Within five minutes of the substitutes being introduced Shaun Maloney won the ball on the left. He laid a nice pass back to Freddie Bouma who struck it towards Given's goal. The ball ricocheted in via a deflection and the bulky left back had claimed his first Villa goal.
Just two minutes later Carew started his personal rout. He flicked the ball in from a typically brilliant Ashley Young delivery. Villa missed the set piece skill of Young against Fulham and Carew was the man who benefitted from his return on this occasion.
Craig Gardner then hit two brilliant shots at the Newcastle goal, immediately testing substitute keeper Steve Harper, who replaced the injured Given.
Both shots were parried out for corners and from the second delivery a melee emerged in the box. The ball finally fell to Carew once again and he headed in the third.
The Norwegian was given the chance to grab a hat-trick as Villa won a penalty and Gareth Barry handed over the responsibility.
Carew duly obliged and he showed Michael Owen just how to make the number 10 shirt your own.
It was brilliant from Carew and brilliant from Villa. The Claret and Blue claimed a deserved victory that lifts them into the top five.