Newcastle United were left ruing missed chances as they failed to break down 10-man Aston Villa in a goalless draw at Villa Park, with the absence of talismanic striker Alexander Isak glaringly obvious.
Villa were dealt a blow in the 66th minute when Ezri Konsa received a straight red card for hauling down Anthony Gordon, who had burst through on goal.
Despite the numerical advantage, Eddie Howe’s men could not capitalize and were forced to settle for a point.
The frustration had already set in for the Magpies before the dismissal, with Isak missing from the squad amid ongoing transfer speculation.
Without their Swedish forward, Newcastle lacked a clinical edge, squandering several clear opportunities in the opening half.
The visitors’ dominance was reflected in their 1.16 xG before the interval, yet they were denied by Villa’s new shot-stopper Marco Bizot, who twice thwarted Gordon and Anthony Elanga.
Unai Emery’s side regrouped after the break, and following Konsa’s red card, Boubacar Kamara slotted into defence, helping to form a disciplined unit that frustrated Newcastle’s attacks.
While the result will feel like a hard-earned point for Villa, it raised further concerns for Newcastle about their ability to cope without Isak leading the line.
The Magpies’ next test comes against Liverpool on Monday night, a side strongly linked with Isak’s signature, setting up a potentially dramatic encounter.
