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Juan Pablo Angel made the most of a defensive mix-up to put Villa ahead after five minutes with a low drive.

Barry added a second from the spot after Stephen Taylor was sent off for deliberate handball in the 73rd minute.

Stephen Carr's foul in the box led to Villa's third before Dyer and Bowyer were red-carded for their punch-up as tensions ran high at St James' Park.

It was a miserable end to a Premiership clash which had looked so promising for Newcastle.

After Alan Shearer's decision this week to postpone his retirement, the talismanic striker was greeted by a hero's welcome at St James' Park.

But celebrations among the home crowd were shortlived as Villa stunned their hosts just minutes after kick-off.

Angel was teed up in the box after poor defending from Jean-Alain Boumsong and calmly sent home a low shot.

Newcastle quickly shook off their surprise and went on the offensive with a bevvy of chances before the break.

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Shearer had a header on goal, Bowyer's close-range snapshot was blocked and Jermaine Jenas' effort went over the crossbar as the equaliser eluded the Magpies.

At the other end, the visitors nearly doubled their lead when Barry hit the post with a right-footed shot, while Jenas wasted another chance for Newcastle in the dying seconds of the first half with poor finishing.

With around 15 minutes to go, Villa finally extended their lead when Darius Vassell dispossessed Nicky Butt at the halfway line and raced through on the goal.

After skipping past the keeper, the England international saw his shot blocked substitute Taylor's hand.

Taylor was subsequently sent off before Barry made no mistake from the penalty spot.

Barry then piled on the misery for Graeme Souness' side when he claimed another after Stephen Carr's bodycheck on Vassell on the edge of the box.

Newcastle's dreadful afternoon ended in disgrace when Bowyer and Dyer traded punches with each other in an astonishing bust-up and were both sent off to leave their side down to eight men.