Ten-man Aston Villa held Newcastle to a 0-0 draw of their opening recreation of the Premier League season regardless of Ezri Konsa’s second-half crimson card.
The Magpies have been the higher aspect for a lot of the encounter at Villa Park, going shut by way of Anthony Elanga, Anthony Gordon and Harvey Barnes however have been unable to make their dominance, and the additional man, pay.
The sport’s key spotlight occured halfway by way of the second half when Konsa pulled Gordon again when he was by way of on aim, leading to successive crimson playing cards for Villa following Emiliano Martinez’s dismissal of their closing Premier League recreation final season.
Aston Villa v Newcastle
Anthony Elanga may have opened his account solely three minutes into his Newcastle profession after racing clear following a Tyrone Mings slip however fellow debutant within the Villa aim Marco Bizot saved from point-blank vary in what was a fast-paced opening to the sport.
The guests remained the larger menace within the opening levels, with Elanga mis-hitting a shot after discovering area within the field and Anthony Gordon heading over from shut vary.
Villa struggled to click on within the first half, giving the ball away a number of occasions as they struggled to deal with the strain placed on them by the Magpies, who may have been lifted by their show after a tumultuous summer season amid the hypothesis over absent striker Alexander Isak’s future.
Whereas Newcastle have been undoubtedly on prime, Villa managed to maintain the scores stage going into the break however Unai Emery may have little question been wanting a quick enchancment within the second half.
Konsa sees crimson early in second half
Villa began the second half with far more depth with Boubacar Kamara heading straight at Nick Pope, earlier than Ollie Watkins did the identical with an effort.
However their hopes took an enormous blow when Ezri Konsa was proven a straight crimson card for denying a goalscoring alternative when he introduced down Gordon when he was by way of on aim.
The Magpies gained momentum from that second and went shut once more however a goal-saving block from Matty Money denied Harvey Barnes from volleying dwelling.
For Villa, the precedence within the closing levels to carry on, with Kamara entering into Konsa’s place at centre-back trying assured.
