After a tight first half during which Gabby Agbonlahor had miskicked with the goal at his mercy and Shay Given had marked his 450th appearance for the club with a point-blank save from Ashley Young, the Magpies took the lead on the hour.

Obafemi Martins' left-foot shot flew past Brad Friedel and into the bottom corner, and although Villa responded fleetingly, the former Inter Milan striker made sure eight minutes from time when he turned home Jonas Gutierrez's inviting cross.

It meant Newcastle moved out of the bottom three and Hughton said: "It's massive, the confidence from results and climbing away from the foot of the table.

"But you want to improve. We knew where we were before the game and we needed to improve on that. We know where we are now and what we now have with this group of lads is an opportunity to improve even more.

"They had the better of the early chances but we held on until half-time. But we are getting stronger and fitter and that helps and it showed tonight.

"Obafemi Martins is capable of scoring and with his quality and his pace it is no surprise he is scoring. We've been able to get some results and that breeds confidence."