NERVOUS Newcastle suffered another setback in their push for a Champions League place as they sloppily lost the lead at St. James' Park to drop out of the Premiership's top three for the first time in over three months.

Winger Nolberto Solano had given them a 37th-minute advantage with his seventh goal of the season - a Beckhamesque free-kick curled round the defensive wall and inside the near post.

It was awarded when Gareth Barry foolishly kicked the ball away in an act of petulance after he was penalised for a challenge on Kieron Dyer.

Referee Jeff Winter booked Barry and advanced the free-kick ten yards as further punishment for his dissent.

But Sir Bobby Robson's side, having been deprived of defensive kingpin Jonathan Woodgate through injury in the 52nd minute, were undone from a set-piece themselves in the 69th minute.

Titus Bramble, who had taken over from Woodgate, was again found wanting when Villa substitute Dion Dublin - on the field only five minutes - was afforded a free header deep in the box on the end of skipper Steve Staunton's free-kick.

Newcastle's cause was not helped by an ugly head injury to Staunton's counterpart Alan Shearer, who when he was finally forced off in the 74th minute was like the Magpies' answer to Captain Blood.

Robson had said before the game that Villa are the top-flight's great under-achievers. But it is Newcastle, booed off yesterday, who are currently falling below their usually high standards.

They may have halted a run of three defeats, but they have gone four games without a win and victory for Chelsea over visitors Everton yesterday meant the Magpies slipped to fourth place, a point behind the Londoners.

To compound Geordie worries, Liverpool beat Charlton at Anfield and are now only a point in arrears of Robson's men.

Newcastle had gone into yesterday's game with the feeling that the whole world had turned against them in a matter of little more than a fortnight.

Controversial defeats at Everton and away to Fulham on Saturday, with a 6-2 home hammering at the hands of Manchester United in between, had transformed the mood on Tyneside from extreme optimism to one of high anxiety.

But Robson, already hindered by injuries, resisted any temptation to make changes in personnel.

He did, however, tinker with his formation, Aaron Hughes switching from the central midfield role he performed at Loftus Road to left-back, and Olivier Bernard moving forward to allow Hugo Viana to tuck in.

As if Newcastle's treatment room wasn't already busy enough - with Gary Speed, Jermaine Jenas and Laurent Robert the most notable casualties - Shearer added to their concerns after only ten minutes yesterday.

The United skipper came off marginally worse than Barry in a clash of heads as they challenged in the goalmouth.

Both players were left clutching bloodied brows and while Barry's head was swathed in bandages on the touchline, Shearer made for the tunnel holding his temple with a right hand already strapped because of a fracture.

He re-emerged four minutes later with his hair caked in blood and vaseline, and the stitches inserted were soon put to the test when the ball bounced off his unsuspecting head into the path of strike partner Craig Bellamy.

But with time to do better, the Welshman lifted a timid effort well wide of Peter Enckelman's goal.

Moments later, Bellamy delivered a left-wing centre which was met with a rare header from Solano.

And the little Peruvian's lack of aerial prowess was clear for all to see as he nodded across goal and harmlessly wide.

Neither goalkeeper was seriously tested in the early stages until England striker Darius Vassell, who had shot tamely at Shay Given a minute earlier, brought a genuine save from the Republic of Ireland international with a stinging drive that was tipped over.

Villa failed to profit from the corner, but when United won a flag-kick themselves, Shearer's bravery came to the fore.

Viana swung the ball in from the left and Shearer's bullet header was knocked off the line by German midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger with Enckelman at full stretch and struggling to reach it.

Shearer was then forced off again with blood streaming down his face and this time United physio Paul Ferris had no option but to apply a bandage.

Barry's indiscretion gave Solano his stage to strike, but the off-key Bellamy ought to have made more of a shooting chance he screwed horribly awry on the stroke of half-time.

Newcastle soon had another opening after the resumption, Dyer leaving Viana's ball for Shearer, whose angled drive flashed wide of the far upright.

Bellamy, who was denied a blatant penalty against Fulham, felt he was the victim of rough justice again in the 54th minute yesterday.

He chased Shearer's neat flick-on, but tumbled under the challenge of Swedish centre-back Olof Mellberg as he broke into the box.

The home fans' fury with Teesside referee Winter was heightened as Villa almost snatched an immediate equaliser.

Hitzlsperger's measured ball dropped to Peter Whittingham, an interval replacement for Barry, and his half-volley forced a fine fingertip save from Given.

Solano then evaded Whittingham at the other end, but his finish flew too high and the Magpies were punished when Dublin struck.

The leveller triggered a period of tremendous pressure from Newcastle, as Bellamy's shot was turned aside by Enckelman before Shearer - grappling with the muscular attentions of Mellberg in the goalmouth - just failed to get on the end of his sidekick's right-wing centre.

After Shearer had made his exit with face and shirt covered in blood, Lomana LuaLua, who had replaced Bernard, used his pace to power down the left and cross to the far post, where Solano slid in but couldn't direct the ball goalwards.

And when LuaLua gathered the ball superbly before beating his man and curling a glorious right-footed effort against the bar, Newcastle knew the winner wasn't going to come.

Result: Newcastle United 1 Aston Villa 1.

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