Andy Carroll scored a hat trick as Newcastle thrashed Aston Villa 6-0 on Sunday to earn its first victory since returning to the Premier League.
Kevin Nolan, with a goal in each half, and fellow midfielder Joey Barton were the other scorers as Newcastle bounced back in style from a 3-0 defeat to Manchester United on the opening weekend.
''Once we got the first goal, it lifted any fears we might have had and after half time we managed to keep it going,'' Newcastle manager Chris Hughton told ESPN. ''There was an intensity to our play. We were able to go right through to the end and, as it got more open, it suited us more.''
Villa, without a permanent manager after Martin O'Neill left days before the start of the season, was made to pay for striker John Carew's missed penalty in the ninth minute. The visitors also missed the dynamism of midfielder James Milner, who was sold to Manchester City on Wednesday, and failed to build on their opening-day 3-0 home win over West Ham.
''We started the season well last week so it's disappointing to get well beaten by a decent Newcastle side,'' interim manager Kevin MacDonald said. ''The missed penalty changes things to certain extent.''
Carroll caused problems for the Villa defense throughout the match. After scoring goals in the 34th and 67th minutes, he completed his haul with a third goal deep into stoppage time.
''It's great feeling, especially in front of the home fans. I'm just over the moon with all three of them,'' Carroll said.
The match may have taken a different path if Carew had scored from the spot after Newcastle goalkeeper Steve Harper brought down Ashley Young in the area. Instead, the Norway striker powered his attempt over the bar.
Barton scored the pick of the goals, with the former Manchester City midfielder's 25-meter (yard) shot in the 12th minute far too powerful for Villa goalkeeper Brad Friedel.
Nolan, who was playing just off lone striker Carroll, added a second when he nodded in from close range after Friedel could only parry the midfielder's initial header.
Richard Dunne was at fault for Newcastle's third. The Villa center back failed to clear Mike Williamson's knock-down from a deep corner and Andy Carroll was on hand to lash in a shot with his left foot.
Wayne Routledge brought a smart save out of Friedel at the start of the second half but the United States goalkeeper was beaten by Carroll again in the 67th when Williamson poked a ball through for the tall striker to volley in from 15 yards.
Nolan and Carroll added further misery for the visitors with goals in the final three minutes as Villa's creaky defense opened up again.
