Villa 0 Toon 0

Last updated : 24 August 2014 By Footy Mad - Editor

ASTON VILLA 0 NEWCASTLE UTD 0

ASTON VILLA

1. Brad Guzan   
21. Alan Hutton   
14. Philippe Senderos   
4. Ron Vlaar   
23. Aly Cissokho  82' 
18. Kieran Richardson  76' 
15. Ashley Westwood   
16. Fabian Delph   
28. Charles N'Zogbia  62' 
11. Gabriel Agbonlahor   
10. Andreas Weimann   
 
Subs
24. Carlos Sanchez  62' 
2. Nathan Baker  82' 
7. Leandro Bacuna   
12. Joe Cole   
19. Darren Bent  76' 
31. Shay Given   
40. Jack Grealish   
 
NEWCASTLE

1. Tim Krul   
22. Daryl Janmaat   
6. Mike Williamson   
2. Fabricio Coloccini   
36. Paul Dummett   
8. Vurnon Anita  70' 
14. Jack Colback   
20. Remy Cabella   
7. Moussa Sissoko   
11. Yoan Gouffran   
29. Emmanuel Riviere  77' 
17. Ayoze Perez  90+2' 
 
Subs
10. Siem de Jong  70' 
19. Massadio Haidara   
21. Rob Elliot   
25. Gabriel Obertan   
27. Steven Taylor  90+2' 
30. Mehdi Abeid  

Villa Park has been a happy hunting ground for Alan Pardew in recent weeks, but will he see this result as a  point won ... or two thrown away?

Headlines today read "Ten-man Newcastle registered their first point of the season", although we were only one short for four minutes.

Just like United's 0-2 defeat to Man City last week, this was another game of few real chances for Newcastle, particularly in the first half, with Magpies midfielder Remy Cabella sending one wide when he might have done better.

However the visitors had opportunities just after the break, with Daryl Janmaat having a header pushed over by Villa goalkeeper Brad Guzan and firing a shot just off-target.

Magpies substitute and debutant Siem de Jong was then denied by a decent Guzan save towards the end, before Mike Williamson was sent off in the final seconds having collected two yellow cards in quick succession.

This halted the Magpies five-game away losing streak from the end of last season - there was little to cheer Villa manager Paul Lambert, his side rarely threatening.

It was noticed that Paul Lambert clapped for the entire minute of the 17th minute salute to the two fans killed in Ukraine ... while Pardew didn't.

Although I have no doubt Pardew has shown the greatest respect to those fans and their families during the period following the disaster.

Watched from the stands by England boss Roy Hodgson, it was Villa who actually appeared likelier to score early on, with Gabriel Agbonlahor having a shot blocked by Williamson in the fifth minute.

Williamson nodded tamely wide at the other end, then diverted a Villa cross to the Newcastle back post, where Charles N'Zobgia could only head it onto the roof of the net.

Yoan Gouffran suffered an embarrassing moment soon after as he completely mis-kicked while trying to convert a flicked-on Magpies corner.

Former Newcastle man N'Zogbia looked more potent in the 17th minute as he curled a free-kick narrowly wide.

The visitors then saw a free-kick of their own sent high over the bar by Jack Colback, before Cabella passed up a good opportunity in the 25th minute, shooting wide while off-balance after the ball deflected his way in the Villa box from a cross.

It proved to be the clearest-cut chance of a half which saw the Villa fans raising their voices to chant Roy Keane's name every now and again, particularly when the assistant manager made his feelings about the on-field proceedings known in animated fashion.

Andreas Weimann showed some intent for the hosts, seeing a shot blocked and a cross into the danger zone go unconverted, and team-mate Fabian Delph then lofted an effort over from the edge of the D. For Newcastle, Emmanuel Riviere failed to make the most of a through-ball by Cabella as his weak shot was gathered by Guzan.

The deadlock was closer to being broken shortly after the interval when Williamson nodded back across the area to the diving Janmaat, whose header was parried over by Guzan.

Janmaat then arrowed a strike just the wrong side of the top corner with Guzan at full stretch, and the away team's pressure continued as a delivery dropped nicely for Williamson in front of goal, only for the defender to become the latest player to completely fluff an attempted finish.

Both sides subsequently brought summer signings on for their debuts, Carlos Sanchez replacing N'Zogbia and De Jong being introduced for Vurnon Anita, before Philippe Senderos headed a free-kick harmlessly off-target for the hosts.

Lambert then threw on Darren Bent for Kieran Richardson. The former Sunderland striker was making his first competitive Villa appearance since returning from a season-long loan spell with Fulham, and he was soon trying to make his mark, directing a header onto the top of the net.

Another Newcastle substitute, Ayoze Perez, scuffed over in the 84th minute and De Jong then almost snatched three points in the 88th when Villa failed to deal with a bouncing ball. It came to the Holland international, who lashed a shot at goal, but Guzan was alert to parry before diving on the ball.

United were reduced to 10 men in stoppage time when Williamson picked up his second booking in the space of just a few minutes following a challenge on Delph.