Viera: I am better than before

Patrick Vieira believes he is a better player now than he was when he left the Premier League four-and-a-half years ago.

Vieira will make his Manchester City debut against Blackburn at Eastlands on Monday night providing he recovers from the niggling calf injury he picked up in his final game for Inter Milan last week.

The former Arsenal skipper found it difficult enough to impress Jose Mourinho in Italy, so the perceived wisdom is that he will struggle to adjust to life back in England, where the pace tends to be far higher.

But Vieira has total faith in his ability.

And he actually thinks the immense talent he had when he played under Arsene Wenger has been improved by his exposure to Serie A.

"I am a better player for the experiences I have had," said Vieira.

"You get better with experience and age and I have been really lucky to play at big clubs.

"I have learned a lot around big-name players and I have come back to the Premier League a better player than I used to be."

Vieira accepts he will not silence the doubters with words alone.

Performances are going to be key, although Roberto Mancini has already declared his faith in the Frenchman by stressing he expects his first signing as City chief to be a regular member of his starting line-up.

Ironically, Vieira spent a significant proportion of his introduction to the English media discussing Mancini.

While the former Juventus star is a familiar face, having won three league titles with the Gunners and established himself as one of the fiercest Premier League enforcers, Mancini is largely an unknown quantity.

The City boss has already earned a lot of plaudits for the mature way he handled the furore surrounding Hughes' dismissal.

And, with three wins from three games in charge, and no goals conceded, Mancini could hardly have made a better start.

"Mancini is a winner," declared Vieira.

"He is a really ambitious man. He came here because he knows he can achieve something.

"He will do everything for the team to be successful and win games."

A passionate enough appraisal, without the added, ultimate, compliment.

"There are similarities between Mancini and Arsene Wenger," he added.

"They both like to work on the pitch and like to be next to the players.

"They manage players and believe in communication. That is really good and I regard it as a compliment that I am the first player Mancini has brought to City."

Vieira's experience at the highest level should help City keep a cool head when the pressure gets ratcheted up towards the end of the season.

Draws for Arsenal and Manchester United yesterday will only encourage Vieira's belief that City could yet end the campaign as champions.

But for that to happen, City's forwards need to make a big contribution.

Although, technically, Emmanuel Adebayor could be back on club duty next weekend, the Blues will want to give their £25million forward some breathing space after his horrific experience in Angola, so the responsibility for scoring will fall on Roque Santa Cruz, Craig Bellamy, Robinho and Carlos Tevez, whose eight goals in December was enough for him to be crowned Premier League player of the month.

The Argentina star is already a firm crowd favourite after dumping Sir Alex Ferguson to join the Eastlands outfit last summer.

And, having hit such a rich vein of form, he is not going to let the current freezing temperatures take the edge off his game.

"I am used to the cold," he said.

"I have lived in England for a few years and it does not affect me too much.

"Training in the cold is hard. But it is also very intense, which is just what you need to bring the best out of yourself."

Berbatov may go under the knife

Sir Alex Ferguson's woes have been compounded by the news striker Dimitar Berbatov may need exploratory knee surgery.

Berbatov was unable to play any part in United's 1-1 draw with Birmingham at St Andrew's as they were unable to achieve the victory which would have taken them above Chelsea.

Instead Ferguson gave a debut to summer signing Mame Biram Diouf who came on as a second half substitute.

Ferguson said: "Dimitar wanted to play with it but we felt we should try to get it (the knee) sorted and get him fit again.

"He may have to have an exploratory operation."

Ferguson reiterated his anger at Darren Fletcher's red card by referee Mark Clattenburg with the second yellow awarded for an innocuous trip on Jerome.

The United boss said: "You won't see a softer sending off. For a start, Darren's not that kind of player.

"It's a simple clip on the boy (Jerome) who actually stumbled. I think it was a terrible decision and it gave Birmingham some momentum.

"But I think we've got to be satisfied with a point particularly as we've ended the game with 10 men.

"Birmingham is a difficult place to go and they are playing very well. It is not a bad point."

Ferguson was not unhappy with a share of the spoils against a Blues side who have now gone a club record 12 league matches without defeat particularly after Fletcher's dismissal for two bookable offences.

United needed an own goal from City defender Scott Dann to collect a point after Cameron Jerome had given the home side an undeserved half-time lead against the run of play.

Ferguson said: "We were down to 10 men for the last part of the game but in the first half we played absolutely brilliantly and dominated the match.

"It was a travesty to go in at half-time 1-0 down after they scored with their first attack.

"It was a sickener but it's important not to let your head go down. We kept battling away and deserved a point.

"We spoke about remaining patient at half-time because 45 minutes is a long time.

"We've won so many games late on so we shouldn't worry about being 1-0 down. We've faced that situation many times."

After dominating the opening 45 minutes, United were indebted to some fine second half saves from Tomasz Kuszczak for earning them a point.

But the former West Brom goalkeeper was frustrated at United's failure to get back on the winning trail after their shock FA Cup reversal against Leeds.

He said: "We're disappointed, of course. We came to Birmingham for three points and only drew the game.

"We know what we have to do to keep up our challenge for the title and we want to win every match, no matter who we play.

"If we lose some points we are disappointed. We had most of the possession in the first half and created some chances. They were lucky to get the goal, but this is football.

"We scored in the second half but Birmingham defended very well and made it difficult for us. We had some chances but couldn't score again."

Kuszczak played down his own contribution including a late reflex save to deny Birmingham defender Roger Johnson a winner.

He said: "This is what I have to do. I play for the biggest club in the world and always try to give 100%, help the lads win the game and keep a clean sheet.

"I didn't manage it, and although I made some saves, it's still disappointing we didn't win."

Aston Villa 1-0 Newcastle

Kevin Nolan and his team-mates look inconsolable following Aston Villa's winner

Newcastle United's 16-year stay in the top flight ended in the tamest fashion possible as they dropped into the Championship with defeat at Aston Villa.

Damien Duff's unfortunate own goal - deflecting in Gareth Barry's 20-yard shot seven minutes before the interval - ensured Alan Shearer's mission to save Newcastle from relegation ended in devastating failure.

Newcastle's performance was a prime example of why they have failed to survive this season, lacking any fire and urgency despite the scale of the prize on offer if they escaped.

And seconds before referee Chris Foy blew the whistle on Newcastle's Premier League existence, defender David Edgar summed up a desperate day when he was sent off for his second bookable offence after fouling Ashley Young.

Newcastle had opportunites to grasp at a lifeline in the first half, with Obafemi Martins firing off target and Mark Viduka having a shot cleared off the line by Carlos Cuellar.

Shearer reflects on 'sad day' for Newcastle

But when Newcastle needed to find inspiration in the second half, all that was on offer was an almost passive acceptance of their decline as they failed to exert any serious pressure on Villa - at times seeming barely aware of the fate that awaited them if they lost.

Michael Owen made an appearance as substitute midway through the second half, but he made no impact and barely touched the ball. It now appears relegation will almost certainly mark the end of his Newcastle career.

Shearer led the applause for Newcastle's heartbroken fans as the despair of relegation sunk in - and it was clear their affection for the Tyneside icon has not diminished despite this bitter end to his spell in charge this season.

Owner Mike Ashley must now try to persuade Shearer to stay on and provide some semblance of stability to this most dysfunctional of clubs as they attempt to rebuild and reclaim their place in English football's elite.

Shearer may have been the manager when they dropped into the Championship, but the damage was largely done before he attempted to come to the rescue.

And Newcastle's hierarchy must now indulge in serious soul-searching after a season that saw Kevin Keegan's reign as manager end in acrimony and Joe Kinnear's surprise temporary appointment, which ended prematurely after he suffered health problems.

Tears on the Tyne as Newcastle are relegated

Chris Hughton and Colin Calderwood could not stop the rot, and the task of reviving Newcastle proved beyond Shearer.

For now, though, Newcastle can only try and digest the disappointment of relegation - and accept that they have been the architects of their own downfall.

It will be a summer of upheaval for whoever takes charge, with a collection of highly-paid players, led by Owen, likely to quit the club.

Owen was only fit enough to take a place on the bench as Newcastle went in search of the result that would preserve their Premier League status - but Shearer's side were lively in attack during the opening exchanges.

Villa keeper Friedel almost let Duff's deflected shot slip in and Cuellar smuggled Viduka's goal-bound shot off the line as Newcastle pressed for an early breakthrough.

Martins also volleyed over the top when he found space 12 yards out in the penalty area, with boss Shearer showing obvious frustration on the sidelines as another chance came and went.

Newcastle, however, were nowhere near as convincing at the back and Fabricio Coloccini was regularly threatened with embarrassment by Gabriel Agbonlahor's raw pace.

Shearer applauds the Newcastle fans following the defeat at Villa Park

Craig Gardner brought a fine fingertip save from Steve Harper before Villa took the lead seven minutes before the interval, helped by a liberal sprinkling of good fortune.

Barry's shot was struck with power, but it was a crucial deflection off Duff that took it out of the reach of Harper and into the bottom corner of the net.

Newcastle's fans, who were in ecstasy when news of Manchester United's goal at Hull filtered through, were stunned into silence as their Villa counterparts celebrated.

There was still time for another opportunity for Newcastle before the interval, with Martins sending a glancing header just wide from Nicky Butt's free-kick.

Newcastle could not apply any pressure in the early stages of the second half, leaving Shearer to make his first change after 56 minutes. Jose Enrique replaced Peter Lovenkrands, leaving Duff to move forward into a more familiar attacking role on the left-flank.

And Shearer swiftly followed this move with the introduction of Owen, giving the injury-plagued England striker the opportunity to possibly end an unfulfilling spell on Tyneside with a flourish.

Barry then missed the chance that would have condemned Newcastle to Championship football. He robbed Butt 20 yards out, but then sent a curling shot inches wide with Harper helpless.

Newcastle were surprisingly lacking any sense of real urgency, and Shearer played his final card with 20 minutes left by sending on Shola Ameobi for the tiring Viduka.

Carew then contrived to waste another opportunity to finish off Newcastle when he somehow failed to find the target after being set up by Agbonlahor six yards out.

Newcastle, despite the increasing desperation of their situation, were offering nothing and Ashley Young fired just over the top after a powerful run.

Enrique's speculative cross almost spared Newcastle in the dying seconds - but it drifted agonisingly wide and referee Foy's final whistle was the catalyst for predictable tears among travelling supporters.

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Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill:
"I think we've played with great gusto and panache, we're open, we create opportunities to win and I guess there's always the possibility we'll concede a goal. That's our season.

"I'm delighted with my players - thrilled with them - we've played 14 games more than a lot of our rivals, I think, and yet we're used the fewest number of players along with Fulham.

"Fatigue possibly cost us a top four spot, but it's tough to get into that group.

"As for the furure - we would be delighted to keep Gareth Barry, of course. He has a year left to run and has been a fantastic servant, but while I'd love to keep him, I accept the fact that there are other things that may materialise. I'll say no more than that."

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Aston Villa: Friedel, Gardner (Heskey 75), Davies, Cuellar, Shorey, Milner, Petrov (Reo-Coker 84), Barry, Ashley Young, Carew (Sidwell 89), Agbonlahor.
Subs Not Used: Guzan, Delfouneso, Knight, Albrighton.

Goals: Duff 38 og.

Newcastle: Harper, Coloccini, Steven Taylor, Edgar, Duff, Guthrie, Nolan (Owen 66), Butt, Lovenkrands (Jose Enrique 57), Viduka (Ameobi 75), Martins.~
Subs Not Used: Krul, Smith, Gutierrez, Ryan Taylor.

Sent Off: Edgar (90).

Booked: Steven Taylor, Edgar.

Att: 42,585

Ref: Chris Foy (Merseyside).