Solidarity is a plus, shows, Elanga Park gets nod

NEWCASTLE United got their Premier League campaign under way with a 0-0 draw on the road against Aston Villa.

- By AARON STOKES NUFC editor

The home side were reduced to 10 men when Ezri Konsa brought down a goal-bound Anthony Gordon in the second period but Unai Emery’s men - who were below-par all afternoon - held on for a point.

Here are five things we learned from the Premier League curtain raiser in the West Midlands.

VILLA'S STELLAR HOME RECORD REMAINS

Newcastle's opening Premier League fixtures look pretty tricky on paper and starting the campaign against a team who are unbeaten in 21 straight games at home [W15 D6] was never going to be an easy task for Eddie Howe's side.

Swap Anthony Elanga and Anthony Gordon for Alexander Isak and Jacob Murphy and this Newcastle XI was the exact same collective that suffered a 4-1 mauling last time they stepped out at Villa Park.

On that particular day back in April it was Ollie Watkins who ran riot as he terrorised United's 33-year-old Fabian Schar. Howe wasn't going to let that happen again, with Dan Burn this time tasked with stopping his England costar.

For the most part, Watkins was kept quiet - and his first shot of the game didn’t arrive until the 65th-minute.

At the other end, new goalkeeper Marco Bizot was tested by United’s new-look attack, mainly in the first-half, as the visitors turned the screw early doors.

NEWCASTLE WILL SURVIVE WITHOUT ALEXANDER ISAK

As Newcastle headed down the tunnel for halftime, they must have been wondering just how they weren't ahead; Eight shots on goal to Villa’s zero, almost 60 per cent possession and a much more positive showing than the hosts in the opening 45 minutes.