Ferdinand finds the answer

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Newcastle United 1 Aston Villa 0

Les Ferdinand's 28th goal of the season ensured Newcastle profited in full from Manchester United's unscheduled slip-up at Southampton, trimming the Premiership leaders' advantage to three points with this victory over Aston Villa.

Anxious in the first half, dominant in the second, the Magpies' 16th win in 17 home appearances ensured there were no tears on the Tyne this time.

"Guts and determination, you need them to win the championship, and I thought we had them today," said Kevin Keegan, their manager. "We showed another side to our game. Maybe we've learned the secret - we've been playing too well. Our poorest performances in the last few weeks have been the games we've won.

"Results like the one at Southampton give you that little bit extra incentive. It was just nice to see Manchester United lose again, because it seems like years since it last happened. Maybe the doubts will start to creep into their minds now."

With a game in hand on Alex Ferguson's side and just two goals' difference in their respective scoring records, a play-off for the title cannot be ruled out. Much to Keegan's dismay.

"The last thing I want is another game at the end of the season to decide it all - I want to be sunning myself on the beach by then. But it's getting that close," he admitted.

"It will certainly go down as one of the most exciting seasons ever. For the people involved, the scars might stay around a bit longer, but we deserve to be there for the way we've played."

While his Geordie compatriots celebrated the closing of the gap at the top of the table, the Villa manager, Brian Little, was not of a mind to champion the cause of his boyhood heroes.

"Whichever side wins the title will have deserved it," he said. "I don't think people in my position should have preferences over who should win the League. We just came to try to do our job properly, and I said to my players please God, touch wood, we are in the same position as Newcastle next season."

For long periods Villa threaded the ball along their back five with that relaxed air which comes of knowing that, whatever the outcome, a cup and a ticket to Europe represented a handy return on their season's work.

The amount of possession they enjoyed served to dampen the initial enthusiasm of a crowd whose expectancy level had risen once more following events at the Dell. The silence would have been deafening had Dwight Yorke capitalised on an 18th-minute slip by John Beresford.

The angle was acute, and the finish askew after Beresford had inadvertently steered a low cross from Gary Charles into the Trinidadian's path. Keegan was immediately off the bench to point out the left-back's error and within minutes Beresford was sitting beside his boss, having been replaced by Robbie Elliott.

"I told John something I felt he had done wrong, and I didn't like the way he answered me," revealed Keegan. "I don't think any player should talk to a manager like that, but that's the end of the story."

Criticised in the past for his failure to acknowledge that modern-day football involves more than just the 11 out on the pitch at the start, his bold move was vindicated by the performance of Elliott, as was the tactical switch at half-time which gave Peter Beardsley the freedom to roam in midfield and encouraged Steve Watson to probe forward from right- back. The Coca-Cola Cup winners were clearly unsettled by the transformation and what had passed for carefree, in the opening period, too often became careless. When Bosnich dropped David Ginola's shot over his head, turning quickly to save on the line, it was the signal for a blockade of the visitors' area.

Beardsley, Ginola again and the tireless David Batty raised Newcastle's shot count several notches before the now inevitable breakthrough in the 63rd minute. Skipping down the right to swing over United's first decent cross of the day, Beardsley picked out Ferdinand's forehead inside the six-yard box and St James' Park erupted.

"The dream is still alive," insisted Keegan. And no one on Tyneside wants to wake up just yet.

Goal: Ferdinand (63) 1-0.

Newcastle United (4-4-2): Hislop; Watson, Peacock, Albert, Beresford (Elliott, 26); Lee, Batty, Beardsley, Ginola; Asprilla, Ferdinand. Substitutes not used: Barton, Clark.

Aston Villa (5-2-1-2): Bosnich; Charles, Ehiogu, McGrath, Taylor, Wright; Draper, Townsend; Johnson (Scimeca, 78); Yorke (Joachim, 69), Milosevic. Substitute not used: Oakes.

Bookings: Newcastle Albert, Asprilla. Aston Villa: Ehiogu, Taylor, Johnson.

Referee: M Bodenham (Looe).

Man of the match: Batty.

Attendance: 36,510.

Race for the title

Premiership top three

P W D L F A Pts GD

Man Utd 35 22 7 6 64 35 73 +29

Newcastle 34 22 4 8 62 35 70 +27

Liverpool 34 19 8 7 66 31 65 +33

Remaining fixtures

MANCHESTER UNITED: 17 April: Leeds Utd (h). 28 April: Nottingham Forest (h). 5 May: Middlesbrough (a).

NEWCASTLE: 17 April: Southampton (h). 29 April: Leeds Utd (a). 2 May Nottm Forest (a). 5 May: Tottenham (h).

LIVERPOOL: Tomorrow: Everton (a). 27 April: Middlesbrough (h). 1 May: Arsenal (a). 5 May: Manchester City (a).