Aston Villa 1 Newcastle United 1

Sep 18 2011 by Mark Douglas, Sunday Sun

JUST when you thought victory was a Given, up popped old stager Shay to yank a deserved win from the claws of the much-improved Magpies.

Super Shay to the rescue – it’s a plot line the Toon Army could have recited in their sleep during more than a decade of distinguished service to the black-and-white cause.

But in Villa colours his heroic late intervention conspired to check a dream display from Yohan Cabaye and a much-improved effort from new-look Newcastle United.

It really was vintage stuff from the Villa keeper, sprawling acrobatically to his right to palm away a swirling shot from the classy Cabaye - easily the best player on the park over 90 engaging minutes.

But if it left United cursing an ex they still hold a torch for, it shouldn’t be allowed to completely overshadow a very encouraging effort from boss Alan Pardew’s “work in progress”.

Because quite simply the Toon were everything in the Second City that they hadn’t been in the White City on Monday night - possessing enough pace and purpose to frighten the life out of their out-played hosts.

That they didn’t convert promise into three useful points will no doubt prove a sore point for Pardew, but there was plenty to pick over as his side purred after a bits and pieces start.

We’ll start with Cabaye, who really is beginning to look the business following his low-key summer switch from French champions Lille.

Having hauled himself up to speed with the pace of the Premier League in double-quick time, United’s midfield general is beginning to weave himself enough time and space to deliver on his dreamy range of passing.

There were a few of those gorgeous deliveries here – as he dovetailed wonderfully with a recharged Cheick Tiote to help Newcastle’s engine room roar against under-par Villa.

Pardew reckons Cabaye on form is worth the admission alone and on so many occasions here he nearly landed the big-ticket winner.

Denied by Given at the death, he’d already cracked the crossbar in the early stages of the second half with a wickedly-deflected effort that swerved over the Villa goalkeeper, only to rebound off the cursed woodwork.

But if Cabaye couldn’t quite deliver it, Leon Best did as the striker continued to burnish his reputation with a ninth goal from 12 Premier League starts.