By Dan King - Newcastle United Digital Editor

At Villa Park

Aston Villa 0

Newcastle United 0

It was far from a thriller at the Villa but Alan Pardew will feel that his side had more than enough chances to collect all three points on Saturday.

Yoan Gouffran and Remy Cabella missed good opportunities in the first half and Daryl Janmaat, Mike Williamson and Siem de Jong all came close in the second period at Villa Park, although the Magpies did at least get their first point of the season on the board despite going down to ten men late on.

United were first to threaten in the fifth minute but Vurnon Anita's deflected effort was easily gathered by Brad Guzan, then Williamson made a superb block to deny Gabriel Agbonlahor.

Paul Dummett headed wide from a Jack Colback free-kick before, at the other end, Charles N'Zogbia arrived unmarked at the far post but could only divert his header onto the top of the net after Aly Cissokho's cross was headed up in the air by Williamson.

A big chance went begging for Newcastle in the 12th minute as Janmaat flicked on Cabella's corner but Gouffran miskicked in front of goal.

In the 17th minute, the home fans joined the Newcastle supporters in a minute's applause for John Alder and Liam Sweeney - but the Villa faithful nearly had even more reason to make some noise as, after Colback's foul on Ashley Westwood, N'Zogbia's free-kick zipped inches wide of Krul's goal.

And Colback was also off target from a promising dead ball position four minutes later after Moussa Sissoko was brought down on the edge of the box.

In the 25th minute came perhaps the biggest opportunity yet as Janmaat played a couple of one-twos to tee up Gouffran, whose cross-shot flew across goal and landed at the feet of Cabella, who shot wide from eight yards.

Cabella turned provider in the 32nd minute as he slid in Emmanuel Riviere but the Frenchman's shot from a tight angle failed to beat Guzan, then Anita fired over after more good work from Cabella two minutes later.

But Villa looked dangerous too and from Fabian Delph's left-wing cross, Agbonlahor nodded wide under pressure as half time approached.

In the 51st minute, N'Zogbia was booked for a raking challenge on Cabella and Colback's left-wing free-kick was guided back across goal by Williamson to Janmaat, whose powerful header was well tipped over by Guzan.

Then the Dutchman received Cabella's pass and cut inside before unleashing a fierce drive just wide.

In the 59th minute, Cabella's cross found Williamson - loitering upfield from an earlier free-kick - but the unmarked defender, who still awaits his first Newcastle goal, fluffed his lines as he swung and missed the ball.

De Jong was introduced for the final 20 minutes, then Ayoze Perez replaced Riviere as United went in search of a winner but it was nearly the home side who scored against the run of play as Delph embarked upon a wonderful run and then crossed for Darren Bent, whose header looped just over.

With six minutes left to play, Dummett delivered from the left and Perez met it but the stretching Spaniard's shot went too high.

And in the 88th minute, De Jong worked a give-and-go with fellow sub Perez but his powerful shot from 12 yards was expertly parried by Guzan.

In stoppage time, Williamson - who had been booked four minutes earlier - was shown a second yellow for a mistimed challenge on Delph.

Aston Villa (4-2-3-1): Brad Guzan; Alan Hutton, Ron Vlaar, Philippe Senderos, Aly Cissokho (Nathan Bakrer 83); Fabian Delph, Ashley Westwood; Andreas Weimann, Kieran Richardson (Darren Bent 76), Charles N'Zogbia (Carlos Sanchez 63); Gabby Agbonlahor

 

Subs not used: Shay Given, Leandro Bacuna, Joe Cole, Jack Grealish

Newcastle United (4-2-3-1): Tim Krul; Daryl Janmaat, Mike Williamson, Fabricio Coloccini (c), Paul Dummett; Vurnon Anita (Siem de Jong 70), Jack Colback; Moussa Sissoko, Remy Cabella, Yoan Gouffran; Emmanuel Riviere (Ayoze Perez 77, Taylor 90)

Subs not used: Rob Elliot, Massadio Haidara, Mehdi Abeid, Gabriel Obertan

 

 

Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral)

Bookings: Aston Villa - N'Zogbia (50), Senderos (67), Weimann (68), Sanchez (85); Newcastle - Williamson (86, 90)

Attendance: 30,267 (2,800 Newcastle)