Goalkeeper Shay Given made a string of fine saves on his debut as Aston Villa were held to a goalless draw.

Villa manager Alex McLeish handed both Given and Charles N’Zogbia starts and, despite a lively show from the latter as part of an attacking trio behind Darren Bent in a 4-2-3-1 system, it was the former who helped secure Villa’s first point of the season.

Villa began brightly and won a free-kick in the sixth minute, when Damien Duff fouled Gabby Agbonlahor on the corner of the penalty area and N’Zogbia curled a dangerous ball into the box, but Richard Dunne was unable to get a touch sliding in at the back post.

Four minutes later, Fulham left-back John Arne Riise should have put the hosts ahead when Danny Murphy spread the play to the left flank, but the former Liverpool defender smashed his shot over the bar and into the Villa supporters behind the goal.

Both sides struggled to find their rhythm as the half wore on, although a clever long pass from Stephen Warnock found Emile Heskey in a promising position, who could not generate sufficient power stabbing at the ball from an awkward angle.

Darren Bent had been patiently loitering on the cusp of the Fulham back-line and was sent clear by Heskey in the 22nd minute, before finishing clinically with a low shot into the corner of the net, but the assistant referee had already raised his flag for offside.

Villa looked the more threatening and, three minutes later, N’Zogbia found space on the right flank to whip in a cross for Heskey, which the powerful striker headed over the bar.

A Fulham free-kick on the edge of the box caused havoc, after Dunne fouled Zamora.

Riise’s shot flew into the wall and fell to Andrew Johnson and, after a scramble, the Villa defence cleared.

Warnock pinged a free-kick out to N’Zogbia on the right flank in the 37th minute and his cross picked out James Collins, but the Villa defender could only head over.

Space opened up in front of captain Stiliyan Petrov shortly after and the midfielder let fly from fully 30 yards, with a shot which whistled just over the bar.

But Fulham had the best chance of the half just before half-time, when Johnson picked the ball on the left and cut inside on to his right foot to strike a powerful shot at goal which Given, who’s view was partially blocked by several Villa defenders, parried to safety.

The home side also began the second-half with real purpose and Given was called into action almost immediately.

Duff’s curled a ball in from the left flank which was flicked on by Johnson before Zamora’s final touch from close range, but Given made a brilliant reaction save to push the ball away.

Fulham dominated possession as Villa looked to hit on the counter as the half wore on, but Given was easily the busier of the two goalkeepers and twice denied the hosts.

Murphy caught the Villa defence napping by hitting a quick free-kick which found Zamora on the right of the six-yard box, but Given narrowed the angle and blocked the shot with his feet.

The goalkeeper then saved well from Johnson, who had escaped down the left and drilled a low shot to Given’s near post.

A swift Villa counter attack in the 75th minute almost yielded the opener when Bent pulled the ball from the byline to pick out Marc Albrighton, who replaced N’Zogbia eight minutes earlier, but he smashed his shot into the side netting from outside the box.