Heading into the match, Aston Villa supporters would have been disappointed with a 0-0 draw. Because of how the match played out, however, being able to secure a point for the opening Matchday should actually be considered something of a small feat.
What the Newcastle United fixture should show is why it can be difficult and rather unhelpful to project too far into the season at any point. Any number of circumstances can happen within the 90 minutes.
The way in which Ezri Konsa picked up a red card early in the second half leaves a lot to be desired. There is a level of admiration that is deserved for the Villa players when considering how they dug in and managed to earn a point.
Being reduced to 10 men against a side that still possesses plenty of quality in the attack, even without Alexander Isak, and still managing a draw is something that should still be appreciated.
Marco Bizot had an excellent Villa debut. Particularly in the first half, the Dutchman came up huge with his efforts, leading to a clean sheet for the club newcomer. Bizot showed excellent ability to be able to step in and provide the needed security as a keeper. For Villa, they have a quality number two option who can be relied on.
Room for improvement regarding Aston Villa
An aspect that is concerning is how the Villa attack was not able to muster too much of a threat even before the red card. During the preseason, the side looked to be near mid-season form. This was an instance of the side not quite being ready for the first competitive match. Perhaps the injury that Morgan Rogers picked up is part of what led to the lack of rhythm in the attacking end.
In either event, the unbeaten streak at Villa Park continues, and the match against Brentford gives Villa a chance to clean up some areas that are needed and to pick up the first set of three points.