Aston Villa 1 Newcastle United 1 Alan Shearer scored his 199th Premiership goal to keep Newcastle United within striking distance of a Champions League place last night. But he was upstaged by Peter Crouch, who headed his first Premiership goal in spectacular fashion midway through the first half.

Of these two teams Villa were much the better, creating far more chances than the visitors.

Villa's manager Graham Taylor sprang a surprise by starting Juan Pablo Angel ahead of Darius Vassell. The Colombian, who wants to move to Italy, lined up alongside Crouch, signed from Portsmouth last week and making his home debut.

Shearer needed little more than two minutes to score. Kieron Dyer crossed from the right and when Steve Staunton only half cleared, the ball fell to Lauren Robert whose 20-yard shot cannoned off a post and fell to the unmarked Shearer who tapped in from six yards.

Shay Given was immediately brought into action and produced a full-length save from a George Boateng shot from just outside the box. Then Crouch was inches away with a near-post header from a Thomas Hitzlsperger free-kick.

Crouch continued to look dangerous but really should have done better when he stooped to head Hitzlsperger's corner straight at Given.

Two minutes later, though, he made amends. Gareth Barry had seemed penned in on the left-hand touchline but delivered a perfect cross to the gangling Crouch, who had to stoop to beat his marker Nikos Dabizas before powering home an unstoppable header.

ASTON VILLA: Schmeichel, Delaney, Mellberg, Staunton, Barry, Hadji (Vassell 76), Taylor, Boateng (Stone 90), Hitzlsperger, Crouch (Balaban 76), Angel. Subs Not Used: Enckelman, Samuel. Goals: Crouch 26.

NEWCASTLE: Given, Hughes, O'Brien, Dabizas, Distin, Solano, Jenas, Dyer, Robert (Bernard 83), Shearer, Cort (Acuna 83). Subs Not Used: Elliott, Harper, Lua-Lua. Goals: Shearer 3.

Referee: S Dunn (Bristol).