A scrappy affair that produced some entertaining football in flashes but only a couple of decent chances saw Villa claim their second clean sheet of the season, but fail to capture the three points that were there for the taking. While dominating possession and looking fairly comfortable throughout, Villa ultimately couldn’t come up with enough quality in the final third.

The first half saw Villa largely in the ascendance, controlling possession, but without much invention or cutting edge up top. Hull’s organization and discipline had a lot to do with that, as did their decision not to press high, instead sitting back compactly and choosing to threaten on the counter.

As a result, we saw Villa playing it out from the back the vast majority of the time. Ashley Westwood, returning to the lineup, looked a bit rusty, but overall he, Fabian Delph and Karim El Ahmadi did a good job winning the ball back and keeping Hull from getting comfortable. Hull’s main attacking intention came through wide balls into the middle, most often down Villa’s left side.

Leandro Bacuna again started at right back, and seemed to have something to do with Hull’s decision to try their luck down the other side. He had an exquisite intervention just in front of Guzan, keeping track of the runner and beating him to the ball on a low cross. Ron Vlaar had another that was not quite so elegant, but was effective enough to put the player off.

Gabriel Agbonlahor was the liveliest of the three up front, and had a decent effort palmed wide by McGregor. Kozak had trouble imposing himself, and Weimann, while involved, just did not have a good half in terms of quality on the ball or decision making.

The sides went in even and scoreless, though Villa had 59% of possession, and nine attempts to Hull’s one, with both sides putting it on target just once.

Wigan started the brighter of the sides in the second half, pressing higher and looking to force the issue, but In the 53rd minute Bacuna had a lovely driving run down the touchline, crossed to Weimann who found Gabby out wide to his left, but his strong curling shot went just wide of the far post.

And that was really about it, to be honest. Gabby and Westwood were brought out for Tonev and Bowery, but neither player made an impact. Villa finished with 18 attempts, four of them on target to six and one respectively for Hull, and finished with 55% of the possession. Villa did well enough defending balls into the box, and Clark seems to be finding his feet more, having checked his rashness and reading the game better. The poor quality of Hull’s service was certainly a help.

The upside, of course, was another clean sheet, with both Vlaar and Clark looking solid enough at the back. But Hull really didn’t offer much threat, Guzan mainly left to catch the ball. As Hull pressed up, Villa again went long, so we can see that this isn’t so much a case of Guzan not knowing what he’s doing, but more of a tactical decision. Unfortunately, Libor Kozak isn’t Christian Benteke.

A lack of width was telling for Villa, who, in playing through the middle, were going at the strength of Hull’s defense. A better game from Weimann would have been helpful. It would be good to see Bacuna get forward more often as he does look a threat, quick and strong and good with the ball at his feet.

Once again, Delph was Villa’s standout player, and it’s comforting that he seems to be capable of maintaining his current level of play. If he can take it up a notch, he can end up being a decisive influence. Mainly he’s got to find that pass at the end of his pushes up through the middle.

Kozak is trying, but isn’t particularly good at winning the ball in the air. It sticks much better at his feet. Gabby looked to be Villa’s only real goal threat, but I imagine after his layoff, Lambert didn’t want to leave him out there for the full 90, and it seemed at a certain point that Lambert was happy enough to settle for the point.

It was disappointing in the sense that the game was there to be won, and it’s hard to imagine that Villa wouldn’t have looked more threatening with Benteke on the pitch. I’d venture to say that Villa would’ve taken all three if he’d been fit.

But it was good to see Gabby back, and while the the side will be disappointed not to have gotten more from the game, another clean sheet and the comfortable possession are things that ought to give them some sort of comfort.

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