SOCCER ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE:Aston Villa 1 Hull City 0
MARTIN O’NEILL’S delight was nothing compared to the sense of relief felt in the north-east of England last night.
The Aston Villa manager saw his team win for the first time in 10 league matches to inflict a defeat on Hull City that provided renewed hope to Newcastle, Sunderland and Middlesbrough.
Gareth Southgate was in the crowd and the Middlesbrough manager must have been tempted to punch the air when John Carew converted his 14th goal of the season.
Hull offered little in response and, but for an outstanding performance from Boaz Myhill in the visitors’ goal, the margin of victory would have been far more convincing. Phil Brown’s side remain three points above the relegation zone but a record of one victory from 19 matches is hardly cause for encouragement.
Having worked hard to frustrate Villa for the best part of half an hour, Brown will have been furious at the manner in which Hull fell behind.
The visitors were in possession deep inside the Villa half when George Boateng allowed Stilian Petrov to pick his pocket. Gareth Barry promptly switched play to Ashley Young and, after checking inside onto his favoured right foot, the winger delivered a whipped cross that Carew, who was level with the last defender, swept behind Myhill.
The lead was no more than Villa deserved. Carew flashed a header inches wide in the 10th minute from a Petrov centre and James Milner later saw his 20-yard free-kick tipped over by Myhill.
The former Villa trainee produced another fine save in first-half injury-time when he repelled Gabriel Agbonlahor’s angled drive at the near post following Luke Young’s slide-rule pass.
Hull, in contrast, had offered little as an attacking force despite Daniel Cousin’s best attempts to make his physical presence felt up front.
Indeed, Hull’s only chance of the opening 45 minutes fell to Ian Ashbee with little more than 60 seconds on the clock, but the midfielder volleyed wide from 22 yards.
It also turned out to be the Hull captain’s last meaningful contribution after he was forced to limp off following a crunching, 50-50 tackle with James Milner four minutes later.
Brown was forced into an early change and he made another at the start of the second half. Having been involved in an altercation with Cousin as the players left the field at half-time, Geovanni failed to appear for the restart, with Nicky Barmby replacing the Brazilian.
Villa, meanwhile, resumed normal service as Barry, in front of the watching Fabio Capello, swerved a glorious 25-yard right-footed shot towards the top corner only for Myhill to turn the ball around the post.
Hull were unable to stem the tide, yet there was comfort to be found in Villa’s failure to add a second goal despite their domination. It was not for a lack of trying, with Milner once again thwarted by Myhill in the 61st minute after shooting from distance.
The Wales international saved his best stop for last, however, as he flicked over Agbonlahor’s point-blank range header from Zat Knight’s knock-down.
GuardianService
ASTON VILLA:Friedel, Luke Young, Davies, Knight, Shorey, Milner, Petrov (Reo-Coker 90), Barry, Ashley Young (Gardner 90), Carew (Heskey 86), Agbonlahor. Subs not used: Guzan, Sidwell, Delfouneso, Clark.
HULL CITY:Myhill, Ricketts, Turner, Zayatte, Dawson, Garcia, Boateng, Ashbee (Marney 9), Kilbane (Manucho 73), Geovanni (Barmby 46), Cousin. Subs not used: Duke, Doyle, Halmosi, Featherstone. Booked: Zayatte, Boateng.
Referee:Mike Dean (Wirral).
Remaining Fixtures
Next Saturday (3pm unless stated):Blackburn v Portsmouth, Bolton v Sunderland, Everton v Tottenham, Fulham v Aston Villa, Hull v Stoke, West Brom v Wigan, West Ham v Liverpool (5.30pm). Sunday:Man Utd v Man City, 13.30pm, Arsenal v Chelsea, 4pm. Monday:Newcastle v Middlesbrough, 8pm. Wed, May 13th: Wigan v Man Utd, 8pm. Sat, May 16th (3pm unless stated): Man Utd v Arsenal (12.45pm), Bolton v Hull, Everton v West Ham, Middlesbrough v Aston Villa, Newcastle v Fulham, Stoke v Wigan, Tottenham v Man City. Sun, May 17th:West Brom v Liverpool, 13.30pm, Chelsea v Blackburn, 4pm. Mon, May 18th:Portsmouth v Sunderland, 8pm. Sun, May 24th (all 4pm):Arsenal v Stoke, Aston Villa v Newcastle, Blackburn v West Brom, Fulham v Everton, Hull v Man Utd, Liverpool v Tottenham, Man City v Bolton, Sunderland v Chelsea, West Ham v Middlesbrough, Wigan v Portsmouth.
