Aston Villa continued their unbeaten start to the Premier League season with a goalless draw against Newcastle United at Villa Park this afternoon.
Both sides had opportunities in an end-to-end 90 minutes of football, but neither could make the breakthrough in a match that saw Newcastle finish with 10 men following a late red card for Mike Williamson.
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An topsy-turvy opening 10 minutes brought few clear opportunities for either side, and the first serious sight of goal fell to Villa, with Charles N'Zogbia heading over the crossbar from a difficult angle.
Yoan Gouffran had a fine opportunity for Newcastle two minutes later, but the Frenchman could not direct his effort towards goal having found space at the far post.
Playing against his former club, N'Zogbia again came close for Villa after 18 minutes, but his free kick just whistled wide of Tim Krul's post.
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Remy Cabella was next to come close for Newcastle after finding space inside the Villa box, but the attacker could not sort out his feet in time and rolled his low strike wide of the post.
Fabian Delph whistled one over the crossbar for Villa on the 30-minute mark, before Emmanuel Riviere found the gloves of Villa stopper Brad Guzan down the other end of the field.
Daryl Janmaat came close for Newcastle five minutes into the second period, but Guzan was on hand to make a reflex save from point-blank range.
Janmaat again threatened for the away side five minutes later, but his effort whistled wide of the post.
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Williamson was next to come close for the Magpies after finding space at the far post, but the centre-back could not make clear contact during a dominant period for the away team.
Siem de Jong came close to winning it for Newcastle two minutes from time after breaking into the box, but Guzan was on hand to make the save.
The away side finished with 10 men when Williamson was sent from the field for bringing Delph to the ground, but Newcastle held on for a share of the spoils.
Matt Law
