Hull Extend Unbeaten Start With Goalless Draw Against Aston Villa

Hull City preserved their unbeaten start to the Premier League season with a 0-0 draw against Aston Villa at the MKM Stadium on Saturday. The promoted side moved to seven points from three matches and recorded a third consecutive clean sheet, while Villa went a third league game without scoring.

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The Guardian reported that Villa threatened inside two minutes when Nicolas Jackson headed Ian Maatsen’s cross wide. Hull responded through Mohamed Belloumi, who twice beat Ross Barkley before sending in a low cross that was cleared. George Hemmings then registered Villa’s only shot on target in the 13th minute, but goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis made a comfortable save.

Villa created two clear openings shortly after halftime. Captain John McGinn lifted his effort over the crossbar from inside 12 yards in the 50th minute. Three minutes later, Hemmings broke past Hull captain Lewie Coyle and cut the ball back for Emiliano Buendía, whose shot also went over.

Hull came closest to breaking the deadlock in the 65th minute. Belloumi collected the ball following a short corner and curled a left-footed effort against the crossbar. The chance underlined a competitive display from Sergej Jakirovic’s team, who had opened the season by beating Manchester United at home before winning at Coventry.

Both teams had opportunities late in the match. Hull substitute Lucas Herrington, playing on his 19th birthday, blocked Tyrone Mings’s shot. At the other end, Villa goalkeeper Zion Suzuki stopped a close-range effort from Mohamed-Ali Cho, and Oli McBurnie could not make a clean connection with Ryan Giles’s cross.

Jakirovic, who signed a two-year contract extension on Friday, said Hull could have won but acknowledged that Villa also made chances after halftime. He welcomed seven points from the opening three games and another clean sheet. Villa manager Unai Emery said the result was insufficient and identified finishing as an area his rebuilding side must improve. According to The Guardian, Villa have brought in 10 new players following a summer in which several key players departed.