Aston Villa Still Winless After Stalemate at Hull

Aston Villa remain winless three games into the new Premier League season after a goalless draw at newly promoted Hull City.

Aston Villa's winless start to the Premier League season continued as they were held to a 0-0 draw by Hull City at the KCOM Stadium on Saturday. The result leaves Villa with just two points from their opening three matches, having failed to score in two of those games. Villa manager Dean Smith made two changes to the side that drew with Bournemouth last week, bringing in Frederic Guilbert and Conor Hourihane. However, the visitors struggled to break down a resolute Hull defense, which was well-organized under the guidance of manager Grant McCann. The first half was a tight affair, with Villa enjoying the majority of possession but creating few clear-cut chances. Hull, playing their first home game since promotion, looked dangerous on the counter-attack, with Jarrod Bowen and Kamil Grosicki causing problems down the flanks. The best chance of the half fell to Villa's Jack Grealish, whose curling effort from the edge of the box was tipped over by Hull goalkeeper George Long. After the break, Villa pushed forward with more urgency. Grealish continued to be the creative spark, but his teammates failed to convert the opportunities he created. Substitute Wesley Moraes, brought on for the final 15 minutes, had a header easily saved by Long. At the other end, Hull almost snatched a winner when Bowen's low drive was brilliantly saved by Villa keeper Tom Heaton. The draw means Villa have now gone three league games without a victory, a concerning start for a club that spent heavily in the summer to strengthen their squad. New signings such as Wesley and Trezeguet have yet to find their form, while the team's overall attacking play has lacked cohesion. Hull, on the other hand, will be pleased with their start to life back in the top flight. They have taken four points from a possible nine, including a creditable draw against a side expected to finish much higher. McCann's side have shown defensive solidity and a clear game plan, which will be crucial in their fight for survival. Speaking after the match, Smith acknowledged his team's shortcomings: "We had enough possession and territory, but we didn't create enough clear chances. We need to be more clinical in the final third. It's a learning process for the players, but we need to start picking up wins soon." Villa face a tough run of fixtures ahead, with matches against Everton and Liverpool on the horizon. If they fail to improve their form, they could find themselves in a relegation battle earlier than expected. Hull, meanwhile, will take confidence from this result as they continue to adapt to the demands of the Premier League.

Aston Villa Still Winless After Stalemate at Hull

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