Victory shows Villa spirit - Collins
Collins shone at the back as well as nodding home the only goal of the game in the 24th minute to ease the relegation-threatened side five points clear of the bottom three. Asked about how big a result the home win was, Collins told Sky Sports 1: "We knew before the game it was massive for us so to get one goal up and hang on showed the spirit here is fantastic. "Everyone felt it, the players and the fans because obviously the position we're in is not good. Hanging on to a 1-0 lead is massive." Turning to his goal, Collins added: "The delivery was first-class, but I've been making the same run all season and I haven't got the ball so it's about time." Newcastle boss Alan Pardew was happy with his side's work-rate but felt they could have taken something from the game. "We put in a gallant effort but the passing could have been better, crisper. Villa were nervous and we still could have nicked something." Joey Barton put in a moderate display after some controversial comments in the press about his midfield prowess but Pardew refused to criticise him. "He put in a committed performance. It wasn't his best game for us but he still put in his usual effort." Villa manager Gerard Houllier again deflected attention away from his own position to pay credit to his players. "I don't think there's too much pressure on me because the most important thing is the support I get from the chairman and the chief executive and that was clear all through the week," he told Sky Sports 1. "It's not about Gerard Houllier, it's about the club. We are here for the club. "The players' work-rate, their determination for each other was good. "I praise all the players because we used 13, for their effort today. You could see from the start they wanted it."