Aston Villa were held to a 0-0 draw by Hull City at the MKM Stadium on Saturday, extending their run without a goal to three Premier League matches. The result leaves Unai Emery's side 17th in the table with just a single point from their opening three fixtures, according to a match report from The Guardian.
Their next chance to break the drought comes at home to Nottingham Forest on September 12th. The club's current standings position reflects a difficult start for a squad that saw ten new arrivals this summer after significant player departures.
How did the match unfold?
George Hemmings had Villa's first real opportunity early on, but his low shot in the 13th minute was comfortably saved by Hull goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis. Nicolas Jackson then headed a teasing Ian Maatsen cross wastefully wide. Villa's best chance fell to captain John McGinn just after half-time, but he lifted the ball harmlessly over the bar from inside 12 yards.
Emiliano Buendía blazed a golden opportunity wildly over in the 53rd minute after being set up by Hemmings, who had outpaced Lewie Coyle down the left. Hull's closest effort came from Algeria winger Mohamed Belloumi, who curled a stunning left-footed shot against the crossbar from a short corner in the 65th minute. Belloumi had earlier nutmegged Ross Barkley twice in a lively display.
What is Unai Emery's assessment?
The Villa manager acknowledged his team's lack of cutting edge but felt they deserved more from the game. "The result is not enough, but I think we deserved more," Emery said. He pointed to the chances created and stressed the team is in a rebuilding phase after a summer of major upheaval. Emery added that Villa were not clinical enough in the final third.
Villa's attacking struggles are a stark contrast to their defensive solidity in this match, but they now sit eight points behind early leaders Manchester City. The manager will be hoping for a swift return for sidelined players like Amadou Onana as he looks to integrate his new signings. Fans can check the latest availability on the club's injuries page.
Where does this leave Aston Villa?
With zero goals scored and five conceded, Villa's -5 goal difference is among the worst in the division. The stalemate at Hull followed a 4-0 hammering at Brighton and a 1-0 home defeat to Arsenal. This run of form has piled early pressure on a team undergoing significant transition.
Hull, managed by Sergej Jakirovic who signed a new contract on Friday, remain unbeaten with seven points from three games and three straight clean sheets. Their manager said afterwards, "We could have won, but they also had a few chances in the second half." A sold-out MKM Stadium saw a huge amber banner reading 'One family, one dream' paraded before kick-off.
What comes next for Villa?
The immediate focus shifts to preparing for the visit of Nottingham Forest to Villa Park. Forest, currently 16th, represent a critical opportunity for Villa to secure their first win of the campaign. Emery will be demanding more precision from his forwards after managing just one shot on target against Hull.
Integrating the ten new faces remains the primary task, and the upcoming fixture list provides a clear target. Supporters can view the full schedule on the club's fixtures page. The match against Nottingham Forest is scheduled for Saturday, September 12th.
