Away from prying eyes - and the general public, Newcastle's second string took to the field at the club's Darsley Park training ground on Tuesday afternoon..

Danny Guthrie and Danny Simpson made their first appearances of the season after injury - the former playing the full game in central midfield and the latter getting 75 minutes at right back.

Following his recent Carling Cup outings at left back, Shane Ferguson returned to his more familiar position of outside left, with Ryan Taylor operating on the opposite flank. Xisco meanwhile played for the first time since his sending off during the reserve victory at the mackems.   

What chances there were in the opening 45 minutes came to home players, with visiting 'keeper Elliot Parish making blocks to deny Xisco, Ferguson and Phil Airey.

An eminently forgettable second period then saw United fail to create a single chance of note, Ryan Donaldson a straight half time replacement in midfield for Alan Smith. 

James Tavernier moved from central defence to right back following Simpson's substitution, while Sammy Ameobi was a late arrival in a bid to boost the Newcastle attack.

The closing stages saw Villa force a couple of corners as they attempted to steal a late winner, but United 'keeper Ole Soderberg was equal to their only decent shot on target  - an 89th minute effort from Graham Burke.

It's now just one defeat in their opening five games this season for United reserves, but their first 0-0 scoreline since February 2008 won't live long in the memory. For anyone who didn't see it, you didn't miss anything....

NB: NUFC had indicated that both this and the home reserve game against Bolton Wanderers later this month will be played behind closed doors - reason unknown.

Biffa

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