On this day (May 19) in 2001, Newcastle United beat Aston Villa 3-0 in their final game of the Premier League season. Goals from Stephen Glass, Carl Cort and a Mark Delaney own goal put Villa to the sword in front of more than 51,500 supporters at St James’ Park.
The Magpies finished 11th in the table with 51 points from 38 games, having lost 15 matches throughout the course of the campaign. Newcastle were eliminated from the League Cup in the fourth round and were eliminated from the FA Cup in the third round.
It was Sir Bobby Robson’s first season in charge and his side finished miles away from Europe even if they comfortably beat the drop.
Newcastle’s top scorer in all competitions was Carl Cort/Nolberto Solano/Alan Shearer on seven goals, showing how much they struggled in the final third, but things picked up for Robson in the three seasons that followed.
The Magpies finished fourth in 2001/02, third in 2002/03 and fifth in 2003/04 before Robson left in the summer of 2004 and retired from coaching.
