Newcastle United failed to take their chances without star striker Alexander Isak and were forced to settle for a 0-0 draw against 10-man Aston Villa. The hosts were reduced to 10 when Konsa was shown a straight red in the 66th minute after pulling Anthony Gordon, who had raced in behind the defence and looked through on goal, to the ground.
The frustration had already been building for the Magpies without their star man, Isak, leading the line but the situation worsened when they failed to make their advantage count at Villa Park. As it happened | Teams | Match statsWatch Premier League highlights for freeGot Sky? Watch PL games LIVE on your phone📱Not got Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW📺The Sweden international was not named in the match-day squad, with his transfer saga continuing to rumble on behind the scenes, and his absence was sorely felt in the first half as his side squandered golden opportunities in front of goal.
The Magpies accumulated an expected goals value of 1.16 xG before the break but failed to find the back of the net despite this dominance. Gordon, the player tasked with leading the line in the absence of Isak, and Anthony Elanga both saw efforts saved by Villas new goalkeeper Marco Bizot, before a rejuvenated claret and blue side emerged from the interval.
The red card stagnated their approach going forward but solidified Unai Emerys side at the back. Boubacar Kamara dropped into the centre of defence after Konsas departure and the compact claret and blue unit frustrated Newcastle, limiting their opponents to very little despite the advantage.
Both sides walked away with a point but while it will feel positive for Villa, it offers Newcastle a worrying insight into what life without Isak could really be like. Newcastle face Liverpool, the club Isak is being heavily linked to, live on Monday Night Football in their next fixture.
Howe: The door is open for Isak to returnSpeaking after the game, Newcastle boss Eddie Howe offered an update on Isaks future at St James Park and said the door was well and truly open for the striker to return.
Isak informed the club in July that he would like to explore his options this summer, with Newcastle also rejecting an opening offer of £110m plus add-ons from Liverpool earlier in the window. The Sweden international is currently training away from the first team and did not travel with the squad for the game at Villa Park.
Nothing has changed, Howe said when questioned about the latest on Isaks future. The door is well and truly open. He has to decide what he wants to do. We would like a resolution. We need that clarity.
You dont need any kind of distraction. I am not in control of that. There is one person who can control that. Lets wait and see. I have made my stance clear. I am concentrating on the team. Newcastle supporters could be heard chanting against Isak during a post-match television interview with Anthony Gordon, who played as a false nine in the strikers absence.
The supporters acted really well today, said Howe. If afterwards, they want to say something, they are free to do that. Gordon: We showed our togetherness without IsakNewcastle forward Anthony Gordon speaking to TNT Sports: It has been difficult because were a tight-knit group.
But you see today, weve still got that spirit and togetherness. That will never go, regardless of individuals. Were still together. Things like this can make you better in the end. Analysis: Fans show anger at Isak with transfer in balanceSky Sports News Keith Downie at Villa Park: The growing sense of frustration and anger from the Newcastle fans was evident at the end of the game when they sang Theres only one greedy ******* as the players left the field.
Eddie Howe had asked the fans to back the team. They left it till the end to make their feelings clear. Howe said afterwards the door is still open for Alexander Isak, and that only one person can give a resolution to the situation, and they need one.
However, the strength of feeling from the Newcastle fans would, for me, make it even more difficult for Isak to return. Could their minds be changed? Time will tell. But I felt watching that today, it was such a sad situation.
Newcastle had all their players available, apart from their talisman. With Isak in the team, they would have won. The supporters are upset, theyre angry. They dont understand why a player earning £150,000 per week can be so unhappy.
They would give their right arm to be the No 9 for Newcastle, and they cant get their heads around why Isak wouldnt want to be, or why he would conduct himself the way he has. There are young kids with Isak 14 shirts everywhere you look in Newcastle.
Theres fans with Isak tattooed on their arm because he scored in the cup final. He reduced tens of thousands of them to tears with that goal against Liverpool. Who would have thought that, just a few months later, he would have angered them the way he has? Where do Newcastle go from here? Its hard to tell.
I still think its 50/50 whether he leaves or not. If he stays, it feels like this circus will carry on and thats something Howe will not want. He said today hes made it perfectly clear what his stance is – he wants Isak back.
But hes going to have to do the mother of all man-management jobs on Isak to get him back firing. If I had been given a pound for every time I had been asked whats happening with Isak, I could have bought him myself.
Analysis: Newcastle miss Isaks cutting edgeSky Sports Nick Wright: Newcastle presented a united front after their goalless draw with Aston Villa. Eddie Howe described their performance as magnificent.
Anthony Gordon and Dan Burn talked up their togetherness and team spirit in difficult circumstances. A point at Villa Park represents a positive result but they would likely have been celebrating all three had Alexander Isak been available.
Their star striker, training on his own as he continues to hold out for a move to Liverpool, was sorely missed. Isak, scorer of 23 Premier League goals last season, would doubtless have buried one of the first-half chances that fell to his team-mates.
The game was a reminder of his importance. Newcastle have failed to win any of their last six Premier League games without him. They have not even scored in the last four. Howe improvised in his absence, using Gordon centrally with Harvey Barnes and Anthony Elanga either side.
I really like it, said Gordon of his new role afterwards. As my career progresses, I think I might end up more central. He had his moments. Most notably with the run in behind to force Ezri Konsas red card.
But overall this was another reminder of the huge task Newcastle will face to replace Isak if he does go. With fans turning against him, it is a reality they may soon have to confront. Emery: Konsa red changed the gameAston Villa boss Unai Emery said the red card for Konsa changed the game after his side began to build up into the fixture after half-time.
We are not happy when losing two points at home. They deserved more after having better chances than us. The first half, we did not control the game like we planned. We were not threatening them. They created one or two chances and the goalkeeper, Marco [Bizot], did fantastic.
The second half, we were building up and creating opportunities in the box. The red card changed the match. We have to feel more or less happy and proud of our work. Today was a very good test and a good point.
Story of the match in stats… Whats coming up in the Premier League?Aston Villa fixturesNewcastle fixturesPremier League fixtures
