Aston Villa secured their first Premier League point of the season with a frustrating 0-0 draw away to Hull City on Saturday 5 September 2026. The result at the MKM Stadium lifted Unai Emery's side out of the bottom three, though they will rue a series of missed chances that could have delivered a first win.
The Villans entered the match 19th in the Premier League with 0 points from two games, having scored none and conceded five. This stalemate, reported by Sky Sports Football, means they now sit six points behind early leaders Manchester City. Emery was taking charge of his 200th game for the club, and his team showed improvement in defensive structure but a familiar lack of cutting edge.
How did Aston Villa create and waste chances?
Nicolas Jackson headed wide inside the opening minutes, setting the tone for a day of spurned opportunities. George Hemmings registered Villa's first shot on target of the entire season in the first fifteen minutes. The best openings fell to captain John McGinn and Emi Buendia. McGinn was put through one-on-one after interplay between Buendia and Jackson, but he blazed his shot over the bar. Just three minutes later, Buendia found himself unmarked inside the Hull penalty area but failed to keep his effort down. Mohamed Belloumi came closest to breaking the deadlock, curling a shot against the crossbar just after the hour mark.
What did the managers say after the match?
Unai Emery struck a positive note despite the dropped points. "I'm positive. The result is not enough but how we planned and how we played and how we created some chances to score, I think we deserved more," the Villa boss said. He acknowledged his team avoided the defensive mistakes and transitions that cost them in earlier games, but admitted they must be more clinical in the final third. Hull City manager Sergej Jakirovic was delighted with his team's start to the season. "Amazing. If somebody offered this to me at the start of the season I would sign it immediately," he said, referencing his side's seven points from nine and three consecutive clean sheets.
What is the context of Villa's slow start?
This beginning mirrors the difficult opening to the previous campaign. Aston Villa took five games to score their first league goal last season and did not win a match until the end of September. Yet, by Christmas, they were being discussed as potential title contenders. Emery referenced this pattern post-match, suggesting the situation feels similar. Analysis points to the potential of young players like George Hemmings and the energy brought by Nicolas Villa as reasons for optimism, despite the summer departures of Morgan Rogers, Youri Tielemans, and Ollie Watkins and the arrival of Ibrahim Mbaye.
What comes next for Aston Villa?
Attention now turns to the next fixture, a home match against Nottingham Forest on 12 September 2026. Forest are currently 15th in the table, making it a key opportunity for Villa to build momentum. You can view the full upcoming schedule on our fixtures page and check the latest standings. The point at Hull provides a platform, but the need for goals remains urgent as they prepare for that Villa Park encounter.
