Lee Bowyer and Kieron Dyer are out Newcastle's FA Cup semi-final clash with Manchester United after being sent off for fighting each other in a disgraceful brawl.

The pair are certain to be handed three-match bans after trading blows in an extraordinary bust-up nine minutes from the end of their side's humiliating 3-0 home defeat by Aston Villa.

Juan Pablo Angel's fourth-minute opener and two second-half penalties by Gareth Barry as substitute Steven Taylor was also dismissed for deliberate handball handed Villa the points and brought an astonishing end to the Magpies' 12-game unbeaten run.

But the scoreline was the furthest thing from the minds of the home supporters among a crowd of 52,306 who turned up to celebrate Alan Shearer's decision to play on for another season, but left knowing their hopes of a first trophy in 36 years have been dealt a major blow.

Newcastle went into the game having not lost in any competition since January 23, while Villa ran out having won just four of their last 16 in the Barclays Premiership.

However, Colombian striker Angel had either not read the script or decided to ignore it, and he ended the celebrations before they had begun in earnest, pouncing on a weak defensive header by Jermaine Jenas to thump a low drive past Shay Given and open the scoring.

It was not the opening Graeme Souness and his players had expected, and they immediately set about the task of dragging themselves back on to level terms.

But whatever the benefits of their second trip of the season to Dubai, they were not being transferred on to the pitch as they dominated possession for long periods without turning it into goals.

They went close - Jenas squandered two glorious close-range openings, although he was falling backwards for the first and stretching for the second, while Shearer, Bowyer and Nicky Butt all drew solid, if unspectacular saves from former Sunderland keeper Thomas Sorensen and Dyer smashed a volley just off target.

But for much of the half, Villa's central defensive pairing of Olof Mellberg and Martin Laursen - the former was harshly booked for his first real foul while the latter escaped the same fate despite mauling Shearer throughout - were able to mop up with few real scares.

By contrast, the Magpies looked as shaky as they had done for some time at the back as Andy O'Brien endured an error-strewn opening 45 minutes in the face of a stern examination by Angel and Darius Vassell, and Given needed the help of a post to keep out Barry's 30th-minute shot.

Mellberg made way for 20-year-old Liam Ridgewell at the break, and he was to miss an eventful opening to the second half.

Sorensen has twice saved Shearer penalties at the Gallowgate End of St James' in the past, and he should have been given the opportunity to complete a hat-trick within three minutes of the restart.

Jlloyd Samuel jumped with Shearer as Aaron Hughes' cross arrived at the far post and the full-back clearly handled the ball, but referee Barry Knight and his assistant were unmoved despite the Newcastle skipper's vociferous appeals.

Souness was furious on the sidelines, and his anger increased as first Steven Davis was allowed to test Given with a long-range shot and then Angel, profiting from another error by O'Brien to brush aside Jean-Alain Boumsong, slid the ball just wide of the target.

Bowyer forced a good fingertip save from Sorensen after playing a neat one-two with Shearer on 51 minutes, but Souness acted swiftly to replace the struggling O'Brien with local boy Taylor.

The newcomer was appealing for a penalty after colliding with Ridgewell in the Villa box on 63 minutes and Butt looked to have a better shout for a push by Samuel seconds later, but again Knight was not interested.

Boumsong needed treatment after colliding with Given as the pair attempted to beat Vassell to Lee Hendrie's ball over the top and the home side were floundering.

But any hopes of a fightback were blown apart on 72 minutes when Butt, who had not enjoyed one of his better games, gifted the ball to Vassell, who rounded Given and then saw his goal-bound shot blocked by Taylor's arm.

Knight had little choice but to show the red card and award a penalty, and Barry confidently sent the keeper the wrong way to make it 2-0.

He got the chance to double his tally in the same fashion seven minutes later after Stephen Carr barged Vassell to the ground, and he made no mistake, sending Given the wrong way once again to cement victory.

But Newcastle's misery was completed when Bowyer and Dyer, after arguing angrily, traded blows and had to be separated by team-mates.

Knight consulted his assistant, but the outcome was inevitable and both were red-carded to leave their side with just eight men on the pitch.

Teams

Newcastle Given, Carr, Boumsong, Andrew O'Brien (Taylor 52), Hughes, Jenas (Ameobi 63), Butt, Bowyer, Robert (Faye 84), Shearer, Dyer.

Subs Not Used: Harper, Milner.

Sent Off: Taylor (73), Bowyer (82), Dyer (82).

Booked: Carr.

Aston Villa Sorensen, Delaney, Mellberg (Ridgewell 45), Laursen, Samuel, Hendrie (Solano 84), Davis, Hitzlsperger, Barry, Angel (Cole 88), Vassell.

Subs Not Used: Postma, Berson.

Booked: Hitzlsperger, Mellberg.

Goals: Angel 5, Barry 73 pen, 80 pen.

Att: 52,306

Ref: B Knight (Kent).