North East | Newcastle United held by 10-man Aston Villa

Aston Villa 0 - 0 Newcastle United 

Newcastle were left frustrated without wantaway striker Alexander Isak as they were held to a draw by 10-man Aston Villa.

Author | Anthony Gates

Stadium | Villa Park

Villa press for a goal

Villa played the final 24 minutes plus stoppage time a man down after Ezri Konsa was sent off, yet the Magpies could not make their advantage count in Isak’s absence, with the forward continuing to push for a move to Liverpool.

Anthony Elanga and Anthony Gordon squandered the visitors’ best chances in a first half they dominated. Villa debutant Marco Bizot saved well from Elanga inside three minutes, before Gordon missed a free header and later forced the goalkeeper into another stop.

The hosts failed to register a shot before the interval, the first Premier League home side to do so since Fulham against Manchester City in May 2024. They improved after the break, with Boubacar Kamara and Ollie Watkins both testing Nick Pope, before Konsa’s dismissal for hauling down Gordon left Villa clinging on for a point.

Opening-day fixtures do not come much tougher

A trip to Villa Park is rarely straightforward for Newcastle and the challenge was heightened by the absence of a recognised striker.

Alexander Isak’s determination to engineer a move to Liverpool has cast a shadow over their pre-season, yet Eddie Howe refused to let it become an excuse. His message to his players was simple: they had to raise their level.

On that front, Newcastle could not be faulted for effort or commitment. Despite the pre-match noise surrounding their unsettled forward, the visitors arrived in Birmingham as a united group. A team huddle and double high fives before kick-off underlined that message.

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They played with cohesion, controlling possession and restricting Aston Villa in the first half. Yet Howe’s grimaces on the touchline told their own story. Elanga and Gordon both wasted presentable chances and their head coach knew his side would have to be more clinical after the interval.

When Elanga released Gordon midway through the second half, Ezri Konsa hauled him back and was shown red. It looked an ideal chance to tilt the contest in Newcastle’s favour. But even with the extra man they could not convert dominance into goals.

The game was another reminder of the glaring need for a reliable finisher, regardless of whether Isak departs before the transfer window closes.