Aston Villa’s Ezri Konsa Sees Red As Newcastle Draw Blank Without Isak

Newcastle demonstrated really agreed they are without Alexander Isak but besides really overmuch they miss his extremity power. Despite dominating this match, earlier and aft Ezri Konsa was sent disconnected for Aston Villa, Eddie Howe’s men had to settee for a tie against nan broadside they pipped for a Champions League place.

Still hoping to bargain Yoane Wissa from Brentford and having fto nan seasoned Callum Wilson time off for free to West Ham, Newcastle played 3 wingers crossed their frontline and only brought connected Will Osula, nan 1 recognised cardinal striker successful their squad, successful nan 90th minute.

Villa, whose fans vented their vexation astatine nan Premier League for nan profitability and sustainability rules that person curtailed deepening their squad this summer, survived a sluggish commencement to take sides manfully for nan last 4th of nan crippled erstwhile they were a man down and gain their point.

Isak’s continued absence has not helped Newcastle and their fans saved their loudest chant of nan time till aft nan last whistle. “There’s only 1 greedy bastard,” they sang successful unison. And really committed were they and their squad passim this frenetic opening game.

Much of nan pre-match chatter was astir nan moves that person not happened. Villa were astir to easiness their PSR concerns by selling homegrown Jacob Ramsey to these opponents for an first £39m, but person been restricted to signing backups, successful Evann Guessand, nan £26m Ivory Coast striker starting connected nan bench, and Marco Bizot, nan Dutch goalkeeper handed a punctual debut arsenic he deputised for nan suspended Emi Martínez.

Villa’s regular custodian was sent disconnected connected nan last time of past play erstwhile their conclusion astatine Manchester United allowed Newcastle to declare English football’s last Champions League place.

Having won nan Carabao Cup, their first trophy since 1969, and vanished 5th successful nan Premier League to return to Europe’s elite competition, this should person been a joyous close-season for Newcastle fans. Instead it has been overshadowed by the Isak saga.

Eddie Howe has been obliged to admit that his starring striker’s stance successful attempting to unit done a move to Liverpool did impact pre-season morale early connected and that he could only see players who wanted to play for Newcastle for selection.

Well, nan XI who started astatine Villa Park intelligibly did. They dominated this crippled and should person been up by half-time done immoderate 1 of a plethora of bully chances. Their ambition to play successful Villa’s half was signalled by Sandro Tonali playing for touch adjacent nan area emblem straight from kick-off.

Within 3 minutes Anthony Elanga was sent clear by Tonali and forced Bizot into a good prevention to his right. Even successful Isak’s absence, Newcastle had gait to pain crossed their frontline and Anthony Gordon, playing down nan middle, headed complete 1 transverse by Harvey Barnes, who soon delivered to nan acold station for Elanga to slash goalwards a volley that was blocked.

Aston Villa’s Marco Bizot and Tyrone Mings were kept peculiarly engaged by Newcastle. Photograph: Andrew Couldridge/Action Images/Reuters

Villa hardly had nan chance to respire astatine this stage. Bizot, signed from Brest, was obliged to show his mettle again arsenic he sewage down debased to his correct to parry speech a 20-yard thrust from Gordon, who was teed up, erstwhile more, by Barnes. Villa, defending deeply, were not getting adjacent capable to their green-shirted opponents.

It’s not that Villa were particularly poor, conscionable that Newcastle were truthful overmuch much intense. Nick Pope did not person a changeable to prevention successful nan opening period. Villa’s expected goals astatine half-time was precisely zero.

Ollie Watkins, who had opened nan scoring wrong 40 seconds erstwhile Newcastle were dismissed 4-1 here successful April, gave an outstanding show of guardant moving down nan channels but Villa, isolated from Morgan Rogers, simply could not get capable men supporting him. They were excessively knackered trying to lucifer Newcastle’s energy.

Villa started nan 2nd half higher and brighter, and Boubacar Kamara should person done amended than to caput their first chance, from John McGinn’s right-wing cross, consecutive astatine Pope.

After Pope saved from Watkins, astatine nan midpoint of nan 2nd half, pinch Villa yet territorially dominant, Elanga received nan shot midway betwixt his ain 18-yard statement and halfway. Gordon timed his acceleration perfectly and his guidance of recreation moreover better. He ran beyond nan halfway statement and Konsa conscionable arsenic Elanga released his walk and erstwhile nan England defender grappled Newcastle’s No 10 to impede his tally successful connected goal, Craig Pawson had an easy determination to propulsion retired his reddish card.

Thereafter, this resembled a training crippled of onslaught versus defence. Villa slipped into a 4-4-1 statement and, pinch Tyrone Mings successful nan centre of everything, they sensed they could survive. Villa had won their erstwhile 9 games erstwhile starting pinch nan erstwhile England defender. It is astatine slightest thing from which some teams tin build.