Online Reporter
NEWCASTLE failed to score without wantaway striker Alexander Isak as they were held by 10-man Aston Villa yesterday.
Villa played the final 24 minutes plus stoppage time with 10 men after Ezri Konsa was dismissed but with Isak missing — as he tries to force a move to Liverpool — the Magpies were unable to find a winner.
Anthony Elanga and Anthony Gordon wasted their best chances during a dominant first half.
Debutant Marco Bizot made a fine save to deny new £55m winger Elanga inside three minutes before Gordon planted a free header over.
The forward, playing centrally in place of Isak, also tested Bizot as the Magpies failed to make their superiority count.
Passive Villa failed to have a shot in the first half — the first home team to suffer that fate in a Premier League game since Fulham, against Manchester City in May 2024 — but they emerged after the break with renewed vigour.
Boubacar Kamara headed at Nick Pope while Ollie Watkins also shot straight at the goalkeeper but Konsa’s red card — for pulling back Gordon as he ran clear — left the hosts to focus on clinging on to a point.
A trip to a fortress like Villa Park was challenging enough for Newcastle.
That task became even more difficult without a recognised striker.
There is no doubt that Isak’s determination to join Liverpool has overshadowed Newcastle’s preparations for the new season.
But, rather than use that as an excuse, Eddie Howe said his players knew that they “had to step up and give more”.
Their effort and commitment certainly could not be questioned against Aston Villa.
For all the pre-match talk about a player who wants to leave Newcastle, it was quickly apparent that this group are together.
There were double high fives and a team huddle before the game, and a clear message was sent: Newcastle were united without their talisman.
Newcastle played like a team and the visitors locked Aston Villa out and dominated possession in the first half.
But it was rather telling that a grimacing Howe had his hands on his head at various points.
Having seen Elanga and Gordon spurn decent openings, the head coach knew his side had to be more ruthless after the break.
The pair went on to link up midway through the second half after Elanga sent Gordon racing clear and a panicked Konsa pulled the forward back.
Sunderland 3-0 West Ham: Black Cats back with a bang as they rise above Hammers
Headers from Eliezer Mayenda and Dan Ballard and a late counter by Wilson Isidor beat timid Hammers
Sunderland scored two fantastic headed goals to beat West Ham 3-0 and make a winning Premier League return.
After the dire performances of last year’s promoted teams, all eyes were on the Black Cats to see how they would adapt going up a level.
They had few problems as Eliezer Mayenda put them on their way, meeting a fine Omar Alderete cross on 61 minutes before Dan Ballard doubled the lead 12 minutes later.
Wilson Isidor sprang from the bench to wrap up the points in injury-time as West Ham goalkeeper Mads Hermansen was beaten far too easily.
Led by new skipper Granit Xhaka, Sunderland looked organised and dangerous in transition with Habib Diarra causing West Ham lots of problem with his direct play.
Sunderland have made 11 signings so far this window and seven of those new arrivals were handed their first starts, with Trai Hume, Ballard and Mayenda the sole survivors from the starting XI who beat Sheffield United in the Championship play-off final.
It is the worst possible start to the season for Graham Potter and his toothless Hammers side, who had 64 per cent of possession but failed to create anything of note, recording just 0.63 worth of expected goals from their 11 shots.
Sunderland goalkeeper Robin Roefs was rarely tested but did make a great stop to tip Callum Wilson’s deflected header from a free-kick over the bar in the 88th minute.
“It was the perfect start. A clean sheet and a goal on my Premier League debut. It’s amazing for this club to be back in this league.
“What a performance.
“We had this game in our minds for the last six weeks and we executed the gameplan really well.
“We’ve had lots of new signings and it’s created competition but there is quality in this team – that’s the reason why we got promoted.
Results
Aston Villa 0-0 Newcastle
Brighton1-1 Fulham
Sunderland 3-0 West Ham
Tottenham 3-0 Burnley
Man City 4-0 Wolves
Fixtures Today
Chelsea v Crystal Palace 3pm
Nottingham v Brentford 3pm
Manchester Utd v Arsenal 5.30pm
Tomorrow
Leeds United v Everton
