Newcastle United were held to a 0-0 draw by 10-man Aston Villa on Saturday, with the absence of striker Alexander Isak proving costly.
Villa defender Ezri Konsa was sent off in the 66th minute for hauling down Anthony Gordon, but Newcastle failed to capitalise despite their numerical advantage.
Isak, left out of the squad amid ongoing transfer speculation linking him to Liverpool, was badly missed as Eddie Howe’s side squandered first-half chances.
Gordon, deployed up front in his place, and Anthony Elanga were both denied by Villa’s new goalkeeper Marco Bizot.
The Magpies recorded an expected goals tally of 1.16 before the interval but could not break through, while Villa regrouped after the red card, with Boubacar Kamara dropping into defence to frustrate the visitors.
Both teams left Villa Park with a point, but the result speaks to Newcastle’s struggles without their star forward, as they prepare for Liverpool next.