Aston Villa boss Gerard Houllier was delighted with victory over Newcastle United.
James Collins glanced home the only goal of the game in the first-half.
Houllier said: "I think we deserved it. We showed desire, commitment and battling qualities, which are a must in this sort of situation.
"Maybe we weren't relaxed enough at times but I think that's down to the pressure.
"When you have pressure, the team's fighting spirit plays a big part. You can't have egos or someone who has lost the plot.
"The team performance comes above everything else. I thought they all worked for each other. There's a distinction to make between working together and working for each other.
"The effort of everyone today was fantastic."
