Aston Villa cling to draw despite Ezri Konsa's red card in thrilling Newcastle clash

Newcastle dominated early, with their attacking intent clear despite the absence of star striker Alexander Isak, whose future remains uncertain amid transfer speculation.

Eddie Howe, Newcastle's head coach, had said before the match, "We've had discussions, and it's clear we can't have him involved with the group at the moment".

This left Newcastle relying on Anthony Gordon as a makeshift forward, supported by new signing Anthony Elanga.

The pair combined to create havoc, with Elanga spurning a golden chance inside three minutes after a Villa defensive error. Goalkeeper Marco Bizot, making his Premier League debut, stood tall with a sharp save to deny the former Nottingham Forest winger.

The Magpies peppered Villa's goal in the first half, with Gordon and Elanga firing seven shots between them. Gordon forced another fine stop from Bizot with a low drive, but Newcastle's lack of a clinical finisher was evident.

Villa, meanwhile, struggled to find their rhythm, completing just 73% of their passes and failing to register a shot before halftime, a rare occurrence not seen since March 2022.

The Villans roared back after the break, showing renewed energy. Within two minutes, John McGinn's pinpoint cross found Boubacar Kamara, whose header forced a solid save from Newcastle's Nick Pope.

The game tightened as both teams, who finished level on points last season, showcased their evenly matched quality. However, the match's turning point came when Ezri Konsa hauled down Gordon, who was through on goal, earning a straight red card for denying a clear scoring opportunity.

Facing a late onslaught, Villa's resolve held firm. Unai Emery, Villa's manager, had said their budget limits their top-seven ambitions, yet their defensive grit shone through.

Newcastle, despite their numerical advantage, couldn't capitalise, with Howe lamenting their lack of a focal point up top. "We would love Alex [Isak] to be with us, but I have to focus on the players who want to play," Howe had said.

The draw marked only the second time Newcastle have avoided defeat in seven Premier League trips to Villa Park, though it snapped their streak of three consecutive opening-day wins.

For Villa, it was a third clean sheet in 12 home league games, but Ollie Watkins endured a rare off-day, failing to score in a home match against Newcastle for the first time in five attempts.

Both teams left Villa Park with a point, setting the tone for what promises to be another fiercely competitive season in their quest for European football.