Aston Villa 0 Newcastle United 0 | OneFootball

Ezri Konsa's second half red card raised hopes of an opening day win for the Magpies, who created a host of first half opportunities.

But they couldn't quite manage to break down a resolute Villa side, who hung on for a point despite Konsa's 66th-minute dismissal for bringing down Anthony Gordon.

United started brightly and dominated the first half. Their clearest opportunity arrived barely two minutes into the contest when Anthony Elanga - on his competitive debut for the club - was afforded a clear run through on goal. Marco Bizot, making his own bow in the Villa goal, stood up to the Swede's finish and kept it out.

Gordon was leading the line for the visitors, an auxiliary centre forward shifted infield from his usual left-sided spot, and his industry helped create space for a few more openings early on. Harvey Barnes picked him out with an inswinging cross from the left but, despite being unmarked, he couldn't keep his header down.

Another Barnes cross found Elanga at the far post but his volley across goal was miscued, and Bizot was again called into action to palm Gordon's deflected drive round the post. Villa looked lethargic in contrast to Newcastle's energy and urgency but looked to address that after the break. Inside the first 90 seconds of the second half, Boubacar Kamara met John McGinn's cross from the right, but Nick Pope - preferred to summer arrival Aaron Ramsdale between the posts for Newcastle - held on to the header.

The hosts looked reinvigorated by the hour and the lively Morgan Rogers helped carve out a chance for Ollie Watkins. The England forward had been starved of service up to that point but Pope was equal to his left-footed drive, saving comfortably, but with 25 minutes left the dynamic of the contest changed.

Konsa's red came after his own side had been pushing, but a counter-attack led by Elanga caused Villa huge problems. Elanga's through ball through down the middle for Gordon to chase was perfect and, faced with the forward having a free run on goal, Konsa pulled him down. Referee Craig Pawson was quick to dismiss the centre back, leaving Newcastle with a numerical advantage.

Eddie Howe's men looked to take charge of the game against the side with ten, with Barnes thumping a volley goalwards that Matty Cash did well to block. But despite a frantic finish, they could not force a winner and the Magpies' 2025/26 curtain-raiser ended in stalemate.