Aston Villa were the better side for much of the game as Gabriel Agbonlahor and Andreas Weimann found the back of the net, but a late goal from Nikica Jelavic made things interesting.
The visitors had little to offer until the final 20 minutes as Villa’s attack swarmed the Hull side.
The game started as a cagey midfield battle, and there was little to speak of in the opening 10 minutes as each team looked to feel the other out.
Aston Villa’s new arrival Kieran Richardson was bright for the home side, and as he looked to unlock the Hull defense, his team followed suit.
Richardson began an attack and sent a ball into the box on 13 minutes, and while the cross was cleared, the ball was recycled and the following build up produced the opening goal.
Charles N’Zogbia slashed towards the attacking third and found Andreas Weimann at the top of the box. The Austrian then cut back to Agbonlahor who turned sharply and blasted the ball into the back of the net. It was a brilliant bit of build up and passing and Villa were rewarded justly with their first goal in their last three matches across all competitions.
Villa continued to prove the better side early on, and held much of the meaningful possession as Hull played on their heels in the first half-hour.
The game got chippy and lacked flow, as fouls dotted the landscape as it approached the first 30-minute mark.
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Villa, however, regained their dominant form and produced yet another lovely passing display that bore fruit. Hull debutant Michael Dawson gave the ball away sloppily, and Agbonlahor found Richardson on the edge of the box. The former Fulham man cut back for Weimann for the finish as Hull’s defense failed to recover with any shape.
The home side nearly had a third when Ashley Westwood ripped in a vicious free-kick following a yellow card challenge by Curtis Davies, but the ball clattered the corner of the post and came out.
The second half slowed a bit with Hull adding possession but failing to make it meaningful. Ahmed Elmohamady fired over the bar on 68 minutes in their closest chance yet.
Finally, the visitors produced something of quality and made it a game again after an hour of little on goal. Nikica Jelavic got a head to a free kick for Hull, and the ball deflected off Aly Cissokho past Brad Guzan.
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The goal suddenly blasted the game to life, as Hull found themselves oh so close to grabbing a point or more out of an otherwise listless performance.
Recently called up to the England squad, Fabian Delph should have restored Villa’s two-goal lead after gliding through Hull’s midfield on a break, but he scuffed it wide on 79 minutes.
Following Delph’s attempt, it was all Hull as they searched for points. Jelavic has a good opportunity at the end of regulation but he was just offsides despite forcing a good save from Guzan. Yellow cards began to fly every which way from Mark Clattenburg as he attempted to gain control of this game.
Darren Bent had a brilliant chance to put the game away after coming on and receiving a perfect pass from Weimann, but he dragged it wide in a seemingly costly miss for a side looking to fend off the opponent at the death.
Despite the frenetic ending pace, Hull could not find an equalizer and the game finished 2-1 to the home side. Villa remain undefeated on the season, going to seven points, which brings them above Arsenal, Liverpool, and Tottenham. Hull, meanwhile, sit on four points while still having to navigate the Europa League.
LINEUPS:
Aston Villa: Guzan; Vlaar, Senderos, Hutton, Cissokho; Delph, Westwood, Richardson (Grealish 75′), N’Zogbia (Sanchez 64′), Weimann; Agbonlahor (Bent 85′).
Goals: Agbonlahor 14′, Weimann 36′
Hull City: McGregor; McShane, Davies (Rosenoir 46′), Dawson, Elmohamady; Livermore, Quinn, Huddlestone (Aluko 71′), Robertson, Ince (Brady 57′); Jelavic.
Goals: Jelavic 74′
