Express & Star

Aston Villa 1 Hull City 1 - Report

Jarrod Bowen’s second half equaliser earned Hull a point and denied Villa an opening day victory.

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The 20-year-old winger volleyed home at the far post as Villa boss Steve Bruce was forced to settle for a point against his former club.

Gabriel Agbonlahor had earlier given Villa the perfect start when he fired them in front inside just seven minutes.

But the hosts missed several opportunities to extend their lead and were made to pay for their profligacy when Bowen struck.

Analysis

The equaliser was just reward for a vastly improved second half showing from the visiting Tigers, after they had spent the majority of the opening period clinging on in the face of a lively performance from the hosts.

Having been pegged back, Villa finished the game the stronger and Andre Green missed a glorious chance to win it when he headed a Neil Taylor free-kick wide just yards from goal.

Bruce will feel his team did enough to win but the performance did little to dispel concerns over Villa’s firepower.

The home side’s starting XI included three full debutants as John Terry, Ahmed Elmohamady and Glenn Whelan all made their first competitive starts for the club.

Goalkeeper Sam Johnstone recovered from a thigh injury which had kept him out of the final pre-season friendly against Watford in time to start in goal. Jordan Amavi was the only notable absentee as questions continue to swirl over the future of the left-back, who has been linked with a move to Marseille.

Villa were immediately into their stride and might have gone ahead before Agbonlahor broke the deadlock on seven minutes.

But Henri Lansbury was unable to make a clean connection after being sent clear by Neil Taylor’s long ball. Agbonlahor then shot straight at Hull keeper Allan McGregor when he was sent racing into the box by a pin-perfect Lansbury through ball.

Moments later he made no mistake, however, arriving at the far post and lifting a finish over the keeper after Hogan had dummied Alan Hutton’s cross.

It was just rewards for a lively start and the only mystery was how Villa did not extend the lead.

Time and again they found themselves in excellent positions but were unable to apply the finishing touch.

Hogan sent a volley straight at McGregor from a corner and then saw an effort smothered by the keeper at close range, after dancing round Markus Henriksen.

Hull were indebted to skipper Michael Dawson for being in the right place at the right time when he cleared off the line after Hogan’s miscue on an Elmohamady cross had fooled McGregor.

The visitors were struggling to make any headway but fired a warning in the final minutes of the half. First, Hernandez drilled a left-footed effort inches wide. Villa keeper Johnstone then saved with his legs from Frazier Campbell after a bursting run forward by Kamil Grosicki put the hosts on the back foot for the first time in the game.

Hull’s renaissance continued into the early stages of the second half as Villa found themselves pinned back for the first time in the game.

Henriksen’s shot was one of several blocked, while Abel Hernandez drilled an effort just over the bar from 35 yards out.

The equaliser duly arrived just past the hour mark. Villa failed to clear the danger after Campbell run to the edge of the box and when Grosicki lifted a cross to the far post, Bowen was there to volley home.

Bruce introduced Green with 20 minutes to go and the 19-year-old missed a glorious chance to win it when he failed to convert Neil Taylor’s free-kick from close range.

Key Moments

7 - GOAL Agbonlahor sweeps home at the far post after Scott Hogan dummies Alan Hutton’s low cross.

29 - OFF THE LINE Hull skipper Michael Dawson hacks clear after Hogan misses Elmohamady’s cross and keeper Alan McGregor is fooled.

44 - SAVE Villa keeper Sam Johnstone saves with his legs to keep out Frazier Campbell’s low shot.

62 - GOAL The visitors are rewarded for an improved second half performance as Bowen volleys home Grosicki’s cross at the far post.

80 MISS Andre Green somehow fails to convert from two yards out.

Teams

Villa (4-4-2): Johnstone, Hutton, Chester, Terry, Taylor, Elmohamady, Lansbury (Samba 90), Whelan, Bacuna (Green 70), Hogan (Onomah 78), Agbonlahor Subs not used: Hourihane, Bree, Bjarnason, Steer (gk).

Hull: McGregor, Aina, Dawson(c), Hector, Clark, Clucas, Henriksen, Bowen, Campbell (Meyler 70), Grosicki (Weir 90), Hernandez Subs not used: Mazuch, Diomande, Weir, Batty, Lenihan, Mannion (gk).