Aston Villa hold Newcastle without striker Isak to stalemate


Newcastle were not able to score without wantaway striker Alexander Isak as they were held to a barren draw by 10-man Aston Villa.
Aston Villa played the last 24 minutes plus injury time with 10 men after Ezri Konsa was dismissed but with Isak missing – as he tries to force a move to Liverpool – the Magpies were unable to find a winner.
Anthony Elanga and Anthony Gordon wasted their best chances during a dominant first half.
Debutant Marco Bizot made a fine save to deny new £55m winger Elanga inside three minutes before Gordon planted a free header over.
The forward, playing centrally in place of Isak, also tested Bizot as the Magpies failed to make their superiority count.
Passive Villa failed to have a shot in the first half – the first home team to suffer that fate in a Premier League game since Fulham, against Manchester City in May 2024 – but they emerged after the break with renewed vigour.
Boubacar Kamara headed at Nick Pope while Ollie Watkins also shot straight at the goalkeeper but Konsa’s red card – for pulling back Gordon as he ran clear – left the hosts to focus on clinging on to a point.