Fans of the Premier League will recall the Newcastle United side of the 1995-96 season, which famously surrendered a 12-point advantage to Manchester United in the race for the title.
In an attacking sense, Kevin Keegan's men were among the most entertaining in the division and during the summer of 1996, their options were further boosted by the arrival of Alan Shearer for £15m from Blackburn Rovers. Yet, while scoring goals was no problem, keeping them out at the other end proved rather tricky on occasions.
Both of those characteristics were on show at St James' Park 18 years ago today as Aston Villa made the trip to Tyneside.
The encounter was just four minutes old when Dwight Yorke, who had not scored in his previous 12 outings, broke the deadlock. Newcastle goalkeeper Pavel Srnicek failed to collect Mark Draper's corner and the Villa striker was on hand to head into an unguarded net.
However, within 60 seconds, the hosts were level. With his back to the target, Shearer fired an effort across the face of goal for Les Ferdinand, who couldn't miss from close range.
Yorke then struck the base of the post from Steve Staunton's cut-back, but Ferdinand had no such problems with 22 minutes played. Keith Gillespie floated over a cross from the right flank for the England international and he rose highest to head beyond the reach of Michael Oakes.
A third Newcastle goal arrived seven minutes before the break courtesy of Shearer. Ferdinand was denied a hat-trick by Yorke's clearance off the line, but the world's most expensive player was on hand to fire in the rebound. It was his first goal from open play for the club since his arrival.
Then, in the 43rd minute, the situation deteriorated even further for the away side when Draper was dismissed for a second bookable offence after he had committed a foul on John Beresford.
The 10 men, though, rallied after the restart and on the hour mark, the deficit was reduced thanks to Yorke. His second of the match saw the Trinidadian volley in from eight yards out after he had gotten the better of Darren Peacock.
Newcastle centre-back Steve Howey headed in soon after to restore the two-goal advantage, but there was still time for Yorke to score his first ever Premier League hat-trick when he produced a composed finish from Sasa Curcic's through-pass. Yorke even had the ball in the net for a fourth time in the closing stages, but he was ruled offside as Newcastle held out for all three points.
Speaking after the final whistle, Newcastle boss Keegan told reporters: "It was the sort of game you feel should have you ringing up the doctor asking for your annual checkup, even though you had it three weeks ago."
NEWCASTLE: Srnicek; Watson, Peacock, Howey, Beresford; Gillespie, Batty, Lee, Ginola (Asprilla,); Ferdinand, Shearer
VILLA: Oakes; Ehiogu, Southgate, Staunton; Nelson, Taylor, Draper, Curcic, Wright; Milosevic, Yorke
Liam Apicella
