Aston Villa and Fulham fans were given an opening-day reality check as Craven Cottage's Barclays Premier League season kicked off with a dour goalless draw.Both sides lacked the quality to make the breakthrough, with the hosts guilty of squandering good chances through John Arne Riise, Bobby Zamora and Andrew Johnson.
That was partly down to an impressive debut for new Villa goalkeeper Shay Given who, along with fellow new boy Charles N'Zogbia, was one of few positives in new manager Alex McLeish's first competitive game in charge.
Managers Martin Jol and Alex McLeish were taking charge of their first games of their new clubs after joining both Fulham and Villa respectively in the summer.
Beating his man: Fulham's Bobby Zamora shrugs off Richard Dunne
MATCH FACTS? Fulham: Schwarzer, Hughes, Hangeland, Senderos, John Arne Riise, Duff, Etuhu, Murphy, Dempsey, Andrew Johnson, Zamora.Subs: Etheridge, Kelly, Sidwell, Baird, Kasami, Briggs, DembeleAston Villa: Given, Young, Collins, Dunne, Warnock, Delph, Petrov, N'Zogbia, Heskey, Bent, Agbonlahor.Subs: Guzan, Ireland, Albrighton, Delfouneso, Makoun, Clark, BannanReferee: Lee Mason (Lancashire)
How they stand: Premier League tableRiise missed a glorious chance to give the home side an early lead but chances were otherwise ata premium at Craven Cottage.
Johnson's finish was beaten away by Shay Given, while Emile Heskey missed two convertible chances for the visitors.
Villa were starting to create and an unmarked Heskey should have headed N'Zogbia's right-wing cross on target, with the ball appearing to screw off the former England striker's shoulder.
At the other end, Stephen Warnock put his body on the line to block Clint Dempsey's shot.
N'Zogbia apart, there was a distinct lack of quality in the final third from both sides, and the Frenchman was next to produce a telling ball when James Collins powered over a header under pressure.
Heads up: Villa's James Collins beats Clint Dempsey to the ball
Villa captain Stiliyan Petrov then went as close as anyone with a 35-yard piledriver which flashed just over.
A goalkeeper was finally called into significant action four minutes before the break when Andrew Johnson cutinside Collins and blasted straight at Given.
Seconds before the break, Agbonlahor was booked, seemingly for delaying a free-kick.
Debut day: Martin Jol (left) and Alex McLeish took charge of their first Premier League games at their new clubs
In the second half, Zamora, who, had been largely anonymous before the interval but he burst into life within a minute of the restart, reading Johnson's flick-on from Duff's ball and lashing a shot straight at Given.
Dempsey nodded over the rebound but Zamora soon was at it again, glancing Riise's cross too close to the keeper.
No way through: Aaron Hughes fends off Gabriel Agbonlahor
It took almost another 20 minutes from the next chance to arrive and again it fell to Zamora, who took Murphy's crossfield ball out of the air and left Warnock on the ground before his shot was closed down by Given.
Johnson had an even better chance moments later but he scuffed his shot too close to the keeper.
Villa needed something different, although it was a surprise to see N'Zogbia withdrawn for Marc Albrighton.
More to follow...
?Fulham v Aston Villa: How the action unfolded at Craven CottageWatch all the Premier League goals every week on our brilliant video playerAll the latest Fulham news, features and opinionAll the latest Aston Villa news, features and opinion
Source: Daily Mail
Source: Daily Mail