Final Score: Aston Villa 0 Newcastle United 0

NEWCASTLE UNITED were held to a goalless draw at Aston Villa, despite dominating possession at Villa Park.

Both sides had chances to win the game, but the Magpies were left frustrated having had more of the ball and the better chances on goal.

Mike Williamson was sent off in the dying moments after receiving a second yellow for a foul on Fabian Delph and he will miss Tuesday night’s Capital One Cup tie at Gillingham.

Both managers named unchanged teams from their opening weekend games, with Siem de Jong fit to take his place on the Magpies bench following injury.

Newcastle had the first shot on goal in the fifth minute, a deflected effort from Vurnon Anita comfortably saved by Brad Guzan before Villa broke down the other end.

A mistake by Paul Dummett gifted Gabby Agbonlahor an opportunity on goal, but Mike Williamson made a vital block to deny the striker.

Villa had a lot of joy down the left with Aly Cissokho getting forward from defence to support Andreas Weimann.

The left-back supplied a dangerous ball into the box that was met by Charles N’Zogbia, whose looping header landed on the roof of the net.

Remy Cabella’s corner’s corner was flicked on by Mike Williamson at the front post moments later, but Yoan Gouffran failed to connect at the back post.

N’Zogbia went close again in the 26th minute when he curled a dangerous free-kick inches wide of the post.

Newcastle responded well to Villa’s chance and created one of their own. Daryl Janmaat picked out Gouffran inside the box and his blocked shot fell to Cabella, but his snatched shot went wide.

Williamson was on hand to safe Newcastle once again with a superb block to deny Weimann after Jack Colback had been caught in possession on the edge of his own area.

Newcastle had the final chance of the first half when Cabella unleashed Emmanuel Riviere with a superb through ball, but the striker’s low shot didn’t have enough behind it to trouble Guzan.

Pardew’s side started the second half positively and Janmaat went close to breaking the deadlock when his header was tipped over by the Villa keeper.

A Cabella cross then fell to Williamson at the back post, but the defender completely missed the ball when he attempted a volley.

Siem de Jong and Ajoze Perez were introduced to the game, but the Magpies continued to struggle in front of goal allowing Villa to gain momentum.

Darren Bent came on for the hosts and saw a looping header go over, while de Jong’s shot was saved after a neat one-two with Perez.

Newcastle were reduced to ten men in the dying moments when Williamson received a second booking for a foul on Delph, but the Magpies held on for a point even though they should have had more.

Aston Villa: Guzan; Hutton, Vlaar, Senderos, Cissokho (Baker, 83); Richardson (Bent, 76), Delph, Westwood; Weimann, Agbonlahor, N’Zogbia (Sanchez, 62).

Subs: Given, Bacuna, Cole, Grealish.

Newcastle United: Krul; Janmaat, Coloccini, Williamson, Dummett; Anita (de Jong, 70), Colback; Sissoko, Cabella, Gouffran; Riviere (Perez, 77, (Taylor, 90)).

Subs: Elliot, Haidara, Abeid, Obertan.