The 26-year-old found himself the subject of speculation that he could face disciplinary action after catching the Villa man in the face as he disputed a free-kick during last night's 2-0 victory for his side at St James' Park.

However, the Football Association this evening confirmed that referee Steve Bennett, who did not see the incident at the time, had decided it did not warrant a red card after considering video evidence, and there was no case to answer.

The news will come as a relief to Barton, who would invoke a six-game suspended ban imposed for his training ground attack on former Manchester City team-mate Ousmane Dabo if he was sent off for violent conduct.

He had earlier pleaded his innocence after both Newcastle number two Chris Hughton and Villa boss Martin O'Neill had played down the controversy.

Barton said: "The ball came across and the referee gave a free-kick, and I was debating with him because I didn't think it was a free-kick.

"I thought it was a foul against me and I had hold of the ball. Their lad came across and barged me in the back.

"Nothing has gone on. People are making a mountain out of a molehill.

"Don't forget, with the referee and their assistants around and all the television cameras, you know you cannot raise your hands these days, and at no stage have I done that."

Barton was later booked for a challenge on Luke Young, and he was again disappointed with the decision, although television replays suggested he had caught the full-back.

The midfielder said: "The ball is there to be won and I am going to contest it.

"That is a part of my game and that's what I was brought here to do and hopefully, they will just let me get on with it."

The Barton debate detracted somewhat from a good night for Newcastle, whose second successive Barclays Premier League win lifted them from the foot of the table and into 14th place.

It came courtesy of a second-half double from Nigeria striker Obafemi Martins, and in the end, was deserved as a Villa side with designs on the top four succumbed.

Newcastle's fortunes have been transformed in the last week with victories over West Brom and Villa, while off the pitch, efforts to sell the club are ongoing with Keith Harris, chairman of investment bank Seymour Pierce, today indicating one of two "very serious" prospective buyers could agree a deal with owner Mike Ashley within weeks.

The Magpies, though, know with just a point separating them from the Baggies in 19th place, they could be sucked back into trouble just as quickly.

However, keeper Shay Given, who marked his 450th appearance for the club with a crucial first-half save from Ashley Young, admitted the win and a first clean sheet since August 23 were cause for celebration.

He said: "We were delighted with the clean sheet as it doesn't happen too often. We need to improve on that and have more clean sheets. Hopefully, we can build on that.

"The team as a whole played really, really well. We gave them a really good game, and I think we deserved to win."

Villa boss O'Neill was in philosophical mood after seeing his side pay for failing to make the most of their first-half chances.

He said: "We have played 11 games, we have got 20 points on the board and we really have to just review it again, have a look.

"We have done really fine - you saw from the first half that we have got players who can play a bit and players who enjoy playing.

"Let's not get carried away with anything. We have got a lot of distance to go, the reason being that those sides who are up there deserve to be up there.

"They have got the biggest squads, the biggest assets, but more importantly than that, they deserve to be there because they are battling on loads of fronts."