Obafemi Martins scored both goals as Newcastle United climbed off the bottom of the Premier League table with a 2-0 win against Aston Villa at St James’ Park on Monday.
Their second succcesive victory saw the Magpies rise out of the bottom three and into 14th place to go above local rivals Sunderland on goal difference.
Nigeria international Martins paid tribute to interim manager Joe Kinnear, brought in on a temporary contract while unpopular owner Mike Ashley looks to sell the club after becoming something of a hate figure with supporters following the departure of fans’ favorite Kevin Keegan.
PHOTO: AFP
“The gaffer [boss] is doing his best, for us just to try and push the pace in training,” Martins told Setanta Sports. “It helped us a lot today. We are happy he is here and I hope he stays.”
Martins was in no doubt about the significance of Newcastle’s first back-to-back successes since April.
“We really needed this match, to put in 100 percent to win. I hope we continue like this,” he said.
“It is very important for strikers to be scoring goals and I’m very happy to score two goals. I have to thank my team-mates because we really tried,” Martins said.
But even after this win, and a 2-1 victory over West Brom last time out, Newcastle were left just a point above the relegation zone.
Martins struck on the hour mark from outside the box before making the game safe for the hosts seven minutes from time when he netted from close range following Jonas Gutierrez’s fine run and cross.
Villa remained in fifth place after suffering their third league defeat of the season.
Earlier Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given, making his 450th club appearance, had saved well from Ashley Young and Villa’s Martin Laursen saw a header come back off the outside of the post.
The deadlock was broken with half an hour left when Joey Barton, fortunate to escape punishment and possibly a red card after flicking his fingers into the face of Villa’s Gabriel Agbonlahor, played the ball to Martins.
Despite having his back to goal, the striker turned sharply before letting fly with a low shot that beat diving Villa keeper Brad Friedel.
Gutierrez set up the second when, after a superb sprint down the left wing, his cross found Martins, who’d cleverly hung back before dashing into the six-yard box, and the forward made no mistake from barely a meter out.
Villa manager Martin O’Neill said of the Barton-Agbonlahor clash: “I haven’t seen the incident. But Gabby said something had happened.”
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