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.

Europa League participants Fulham also failed to make the most of having played six competitive matches already this season, something which was expected to help them make a fast start in the Premier League.

Today's contest was therefore thought to be a baptism of fire for McLeish, who needed to hit the ground running to silence the doubters following his controversial defection from Birmingham.

There was no shortage of backing for either side early on from fans optimistic about a new season.

The home support should have been given something to cheer in the 10th minute when Danny Murphy poked a ball through for the unmarked Riise, who blazed over with the goal at his mercy.

Villa were playing an interesting 4-2-3-1 formation, with £9.5million man N'Zogbia, Emile Heskey and Gabriel Agbonlahor playing just off Darren Bent.

But they were lacking penetration, as well as the imagination to try something unexpected, unlike Fulham's Damien Duff, who volleyed over right-footed for 25 yards.

The visitors were almost gifted a 20th-minute opener when Richard Dunne pumped a hopeful ball down the left and Philippe Senderos lost track of Heskey, who volleyed straight at Mark Schwarzer.