Leeds United 0-0 Aston Villa

Aston Villa could not find a breakthrough as they played out a goalless draw against 10-man Leeds United at Elland Road.

The hosts saw Luis Sinisterra dismissed in the 48^th minute for a second bookable offence but Villa, despite enjoying 19 shots to the home side’s six, could find no way through the home rearguard in what was a feisty Premier League encounter.

Philippe Coutinho went closest when his volley rebounded off a post, while Ollie Watkins threatened on numerous occasions and substitute Emi Buendía curled narrowly off target from distance.

The draw, a first point on the road this term, extends Villa’s unbeaten sequence to three matches, including back-to-back clean sheets, while they have suffered just one defeat in their last 11 Premier League away games against United.

But there were further injury issues for Steven Gerrard as debutant Ludwig Augustinsson was forced off in the first half in West Yorkshire.

Augustinsson was handed his Villa bow as head coach Gerrard made two changes from the 1-0 victory over Southampton last time out, Douglas Luiz also coming into midfield as the visitors were without injured pair Lucas Digne and Boubacar Kamara.

An evenly-balanced opening 15 minutes saw both sides looking to establish an early advantage, Watkins’ low strike across goal saved by Illan Meslier before the Leeds goalkeeper collected another effort from Coutinho.

Rodrigo was inches away from connecting with a low ball across goal at the other end before the Spain international fired narrowly wide for the hosts from 20 yards.

Both sides saw penalty appeals waved away just after the half-hour mark during what was a fiercely competitive first half containing plenty of needle.

And it was Watkins who came close to a breakthrough before the interval, beating Meslier but seeing Robin Koch clear the danger, before Bailey also tested the United stopper from inside the penalty area.

Yet Villa suffered an injury setback on the stroke of half-time as Augustinsson was forced off, replaced by fellow debutant Jan Bednarek, with Ezri Konsa moving to right-back and Ashley Young switching over to the left.

The nature of a first half which saw four yellow cards meant it came as no real surprise to see a red card brandished, and it came just three minutes into the second period as Sinisterra was dismissed for a second bookable offence.

And Villa almost capitalised immediately, Coutinho’s strike from Bailey’s cross rebounding off the far post, with Meslier beaten, before Watkins sent the rebound wide.

Gerrard introduced Buendía off the bench and the Argentinian went close from distance in the 72^nd minute before Konsa headed just wide from a corner.

Villa were pushing for a breakthrough and Coutinho was next to send a chance off target, before Watkins tested Meslier and Martinez had to be alert to parry from Leeds sub Patrick Bamford.

Villa were throwing everything forward in search of a winner but Watkins was thwarted by Meslier yet again late on as the encounter finished all square.