Having fought back from a goal down at the break with a stunning Gavin McCann equaliser, the three points were there for the taking for Villa for the second successive season at St James' Park.
Ironically, last season Barry put away two spot-kicks against eight-man Newcastle. This time around the former England man - linked with a move to Tyneside this week - drove hopelessly over the bar.
That would have produced a third successive Premiership win for David O'Leary's side who had fallen behind to an Alan Shearer penalty, who on 198 goals is just two away from equalling Jackie Milburn's all-time club record.
For the opening half-hour this was a dour affair, with both sides contributing little to a poor game.
On the half-hour mark Shola Ameobi curled the ball wide before United went ahead on 32 minutes.
McCann was booked for a series of fouls - the latter on Ameobi. Nobby Solano's free-kick was headed out as far as Scott Parker whose volley was handled by Liam Ridgewell.
Shearer, who had a penalty saved by Thomas Sorensen in his Sunderland days, drove to the keeper's right and although the Dane got a hand to the ball he was unable to keep it out.
Lee Hendrie hit a free-kick into the side-netting as Villa hit back and a last-gasp Robbie Elliott challenge denied Milan Baros when well-positioned.
United launched a 'route one' attack on 53 minutes that saw Shearer outmuscle the Villa rearguard only to see his volley hit the top of the bar.
It was no surprise when Villa levelled it up on 66 minutes with the sweetest of moves. It ended with Hendrie pulling the ball back from the left and McCann, who lost his marker, rifling the sweetest of 25-yard drives across Shay Given.
It looked like remaining that way until yet another rush of blood from Titus Bramble who lunged at Baros two minutes from time as the former Liverpool man appeared to run the ball out of player.
The penalty was as clear-cut as they come but the finish was dreadful.
Newcastle's injuries nightmare continued when Charles N'Zogbia was forced to undergo surgery on a fractured wrist sustained in the midweek cup defeat at Wigan and will be out until after Christmas.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Scott Parker (Newcastle) - Bossed the midfield as he prompted and pushed the under-strength Newcastle side from start to finish and had a classic midfield battle with Gavin McCann.