Needing to better the result of fellow strugglers Hull City in their own game with Manchester United, the Magpies slipped to a miserable 17th league defeat of the season to head into the Championship and next season will face Town alongside West Bromwich Albion and Middlesbrough
To rub salt into the wounds, Damien Duff's own goal at Villa Park sealed their fate, as Alan Shearer failed in his mission to save his hometown club during the final eight games of the season.
Newcastle's defeat also ensured that Sunderland survived despite their own final-day defeat. Ricky Sbragia kept the Black Cats in the top-flight before resigning, with his last act a 3-2 defeat at Chelsea.
Middlesbrough's own outside chances of survival - they needed to win at West Ham and hope other results went in their favour - were ended by a 2-1 defeat.
In truth, the writing was largely on the wall for the Teessiders after winning just seven league games all season and Carlton Cole's opener for the Hammers increase the sense of doom and gloom among the travelling fans.
Gary O'Neil's 50th minute equaliser briefly raised hopes of a dramatic escape, but Boro's Championship fate was sealed eight minutes later when Junior Stanislas made it 2-1 to the home side.
Despair in the north-east was met with joy on Humberside as Hull City survived by the skin of their teeth despite losing 1-0 at home to Manchester United. The Tigers ultimately survived by one solitary point.