Newcastle failed to fire as an attacking force against Villa, and it was probably just as well the Magpies were only watched by a handful of people because of the decision to play the game behind closed doors at Darsley Park.
After 10 minutes Phil Airey and Danny Guthrie combined to send Xisco in on goal, but the Spanish striker put his shot far too close to Villa goalkeeper Elliot Parish, who got down comfortably to block.
A shoving contest between Guthrie and James Collins Jnr briefly gave the "one man and his dog" something to get excited about, but the contest quickly returned to a kick-about as neither side managed to pose a threat.
Ferguson did test the goalkeeper from the edge of the area with a well-struck shot before Airey shot tamely at the legs of Parish after he was also sent in on goal.
Newcastle United: Soderberg, Simpson (Henderson 75), Tavernier, Grieve, Dummett; Taylor, Guthrie, Smith (Donaldson 46) Ferguson (Ameobi 80), Xisco, Airey. Subs not used: Alnwick, McLaughlin.
Aston Villa: Parish; Berry, Clark, Lowry, Deeney, Barton (Taylor 70), Hogg, Johnson, Cameron (Burke 85), Nelson-Addy, Collins Jnr. Subs not used: Marshall,Halfhuid, Jenkins.