The Villa appetiser: Steve Bruce on Villa & Hull City (not Tigers) away match preview

Steve Bruce on Villa

“Villa had a really good result against Manchester City last weekend and they’ve had a decent start (overall) as well.

“As I keep saying every week, it’s another really difficult challenge in its own way. They’re a good side with some good players.

“We’re maybe fortunate that Benteke isn’t playing because at the moment he is as good as any striker out there.

“But Villa are a good team and it will be another big challenge for us. I don’t think sitting back is in their manager’s psyche. They’re very, very good on the counter-attack and very quick, so as always we know we’ll have to defend well.

But we’ve started off particularly well at home and we must keep that going. We’ve picked up seven points from our three home games and if we can go into the international break having taken something out of this game as well that would make it a very decent start indeed.”

Paul Lambert on Hull City

“They have had an excellent start and that usually happens with a newly-promoted team. It’s new, it’s fresh and they go into the unknown in every game. You do get that freshness.

“It’s a different type of game to the one against City. If we keep our away form and the way we are playing then we will certainly create chances.

“You have to earn the right to go and win a game. We will go up there and do everything we can to win it.” (Source: Aston Villa Official)

Match Difficulty Grade

B+ - Despite last weekend’s heroics, it won’t be easy at the KC Stadium – Hull City have enjoyed an unbeaten start at home to their Premier League return.

Form is Temporary

Memory match

21 April 2010 Hull City 0 Aston Villa 2

The last time we met Hull it was a 13th minute goal from Agbonlahor and a second-half penalty from Milner that settled the game. Of the 18 players on Villa’s squad sheet on that day, only Guzan and Agbonlahor remain!

Hull City: Last five League matches at home (Two Championship games included): W 2, D 3

Aston Villa: Last five Premier League matches away: W 3, D 1, L 1

Villa have only played twice as visitors against Hull in the Premier League but both results were victories.

Facts to Sweep Under the Carpet

While some of the big teams have struggled in the opening few weeks of the Premier League season, Hull have impressively leapt up to 8th place and remain unbeaten at home. They’ve won two of their three home games, keeping a clean sheet in both of those fixtures.

Despite the rest of Villa’s squad chipping in with goals in Benteke’s absence, it could be difficult to break down the solid defence of Bruce’s team and match the last time we won three in a row (back in 2010).

What We Pray the Football Gods Will Provide

With Agbonlahor and Westwood rumoured to be back in contention for a place in the squad it will be interesting to see how they fit into the line-up seen in the last two league games.

The added pace of Agbonlahor (if fit) in our side can add to our attacking threat, and if we show the spirit we showed last weekend there could be plenty of goals for the Villans – especially if Gabby can act as provider to the impressive Kozak.

Why Villa have got this game in the bag

It’s well documented that Villa’s counter-attacking style is better suited to away fixtures and the stats reflect this – we’re currently placed fifth in the away form table.

History shows that visiting Hull has been good for Villa in the past and a third win could see us continue to climb towards the upper echelons of the table.

Out of 12 away fixtures in 2013, Villa have only lost three times (against Chelsea this season, Manchester United and Arsenal last season).

With Hull’s main attacking threat Robbie Brady likely to miss the match, this is a good opportunity to get a third away win of the season.12 points/four wins out of seven games including several tough fixtures would be very good indeed. UTV.

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