Obafemi Martins blasted Newcastle United out of the Barclays Premier League's relegation zone as Joe Kinnear's battlers claimed a second successive victory, 2-0 over Aston Villa.

The Nigeria international scored for the second time in six days to hand his side a win which lifted them to 14th place, ahead of arch-rivals Sunderland on goal difference.

Having not had back-to-back league successes since April, six points from the visits of midlands duo West Bromwich Albion and Villa inside a week represents a major boost for a side which had not kept a clean sheet since 23rd August.

In the event, Kinnear's men were good value for their victory after surviving a stern test of their resolve against one of the Premier League's emerging forces before killing off the match in devastating fashion without having to summon the fit-again Michael Owen from the bench until stoppage time.

It might have been so different had Gabriel Agbonlahor not miskicked in front of goal or Shay Given, making his 450th appearance for the club, not produced a fine stop to deny Ashley Young.

But the bulk of a crowd of 44,567 headed home hopeful a significant corner had been turned and would be able to look forward with renewed optimism despite the ongoing turmoil behind the scenes.

The Magpies could only look on over the weekend as wins for the likes of Wigan Athletic, Bolton Wanderers and Tottenham Hotspur sent them sliding to the foot of the table without kicking a ball.

That said, they knew a win over fifth-placed Villa would see them leap six positions, and that was all the incentive they needed.

Newcastle knew only their very best would see them emerge with all three points and that feeling was proved correct in a highly-competitive first 45 minutes.

They got their warning with just 11 minutes gone when Villa captain Martin Laursen glanced a Gareth Barry corner just wide of the outside of the post, and quite how Agbonlahor failed to convert former Magpie James Milner's 22nd-minute cross only he will know.

But Kinnear's men had Given, now fourth in the club's all-time appearance list, to thank for their share of the spoils at the break when he made a point-blank block to deny Ashley Young nine minutes before the break after Agbonlahor had played him in.

However, Newcastle had chances - or more accurately, half-chances - of their own with Joey Barton forcing a good save from Brad Friedel with a long-distance effort, and Steven Taylor only just failing to connect with Habib Beye's 41st-minute cross in front of goal.

Villa's pace on the break was a constant threat, as was the returning John Carew's ability to hold the ball up and play others in.

But with the Magpies' rearguard just about holding firm, they returned with their hopes intact.

Beye needed to be at his best to prevent Agbonlahor from turning Milner's cross home within two minutes of the restart as Villa assumed control in the early stages of the second half.

The match was starting to open up, and the opening goal arrived with 30 minutes remaining.

Barton picked out Martins with his back to goal on the edge of the penalty area and he turned smartly before blasting a left-foot drive wide of Friedel's dive and into the bottom corner.

The Magpies would have been significantly closer to victory seven minutes later had Nicky Butt's free-kick crept inside the post rather than clipped the outside of it.

Butt volleyed just wide as the Magpies threatened to kill off the match but with midfielder Steve Sidwell having replaced full-back Nicky Shorey with 18 minutes remaining, the visitors started to make their final push.

However, the match was effectively over eight minutes from time when Jonas Gutierrez capped a fine individual display with a high-octane run down the left and a cross which Martins gleefully blasted into the back of the net.

Beye might have made sure in injury-time but the points were safe.