Unai Emery hails 'fantastic' Aston Villa debutant after Newcastle stalemate

The Dutch shot-stopper saved from Anthony Elanga and Anthony Gordon in his first-ever Premier League appearances, to ensure below-par Villa at least took something from their season opener.

Bizot, a £6million signing from Brest and one of only two senior recruits so far in the transfer window, denied Elanga one-on-one in the opening minutes.

Villa later had Ezri Konsa sent-off for pulling back Gordon and played the final 24 minutes, plus stoppage time, a man down.

Asked about Bizot’s performance, Emery replied: “Fantastic. For him, the first match here against Newcastle at home and a lot of tactical things we do with the goalkeeper, he was trying, he was focusing to try to start attacks.

“He was playing confidently. I think his first save gave him that confidence to play, feeling strong in our structure.

“I am happy because we will need players and with him, we played fantastic.”

Villa, opening a Premier League season at home for the first time in 15 years, were out-of-sorts in attack and did not register an attempt on goal in the first half.

Boubacar Kamara sent their best chance straight at Newcastle keeper Nick Pope early in the second half, while Ollie Watkins also tested the visiting No.1.

But Konsa’s 66th minute dismissal made it a case of damage limitation but Villa and Bizot were not seriously troubled in the closing stages.

The draw means Villa extended their unbeaten Premier League home record to 19 matches but Emery said: “We are not happy when we are losing two points at home.

“But how the match went, the summary of the 90 minutes, maybe they (Newcastle) deserved more because they had better chances than us.

“After the red card, we have to accept it and we have to feel more or less confident and comfortable with the result.”