Villa secured a hard fought draw at St James' Park and probably created enough half chances to have merited all three points.

The defenders were definitely on top in a game of very few clear cut opportunities, but the travelling Villa fans left happy with their sides' efforts.

A scrappy start saw neither side find any real rhythm in the opening few minutes. Gardner blocked former team mate Milner's way with a crunching challenge on four.

Harper scrambled clear under pressure from Carew on seven and the big Norwegian headed wide as he met Gardner's right wing cross moments later.

Carew went closer on nine, but saw his curled effort tipped behind for a corner by Harper,

Laursen thought he had broken the deadlock two minutes later, but Harper somehow kept out a close range header.

Milner volleyed over the bar from the edge of the box on 25 as Villa only half cleared N'Zogbia's corner from the left.

Gardner slid in to block a low drive from Smith on 30 as Milner cut the ball back from the right.

Villa might have had the lead seconds later as Agbonlahor raced the length of the pitch, only to fire a tame effort wide.

Carson did well to palm Viduka's header over the bar on 36 and the debutant did even better seconds later as he somehow blocked a vicious drive from Rozehnal.

Carew flashed a left-foot volley across the edge of the sixth-yard box on 50 as he met Petrov's cross from the right.

Harper raced off his line to deny Carew on 57 as the striker chased Gardner's lofted pass from the halfway line.

Laursen deflected Smith's right-foot volley behind for a corner three minutes later as both sides continued to create half chances without really testing the keepers.

Reo-Coker almost opened the scoring after a powerful run on 61, but saw his low drive tipped past the post by Harper.

Viduka fired high over the bar from distance on 65, with Young shooting wide at the other end seconds later.

Young's right wing cross was deflected onto the roof of the net on 71. Barry then blazed over from 25 yards as Newcastle only half cleared the resulting corner.

Petrov sent a half volley straight at Harper on 87 as he found space on the edge of the box. With the seconds ticking away Moore then saw a rising drive blocked by Taylor.