Dave Woodhall sees Villa draw at Hull City.
Two games, two defeats and no goals would normally be cause for concern but this is Unai Emery’s team and he does things differently. New players and upheaval meant that Unai’s being cut more slack than any other manager could hope for, although there was the feeling that Hull away was where Villa’s season would really start.
The team he picked was surprisingly familiar, with Tyrone Mings replacing Pau Torres, presumably to deal with Hull’s more direct approach, and a good few attacking alternatives on the bench. There was no sign of Taaylor Harwood-Bellis or Leon Goretzka, both men presumably not thought to be match-fit after disrupted pre-seasons.
Hull have started the season much better than expected so they were naturally up for it from the start but Villa were equal to them and soon began to show their superior ability. Nicolas Jackson had a header that went wide in the early minutes and this was followed by a shot from Ross Barkley that wasn’t far off target.
Villa then had a good claim for a penalty right on half-time when Nicolas Jackson was brought down but the sides went in goalless. There were certainly enough options to change the match but Unai thought the players already on the pitch were good enough.
We began the second half much as they had ended the first and John McGinn was guilty of a shocking miss, with Emiliano Buendia also wasting the opportunity to give Villa the lead before being taken off with fifteen minutes remaining.
Alysson rather than Ibrahim Mbaye was given the opportunity to win the game although he didn’t have much opportunity with Villa seeming content to slow down the play and come away with a point. This let Hull back into the game and they could have win it, hitting the woodwork and having another couple of late chances.
In the end it was the draw that both teams wouldn’t have wanted at the start although they would probably have settled for it a long time before the final whistle. Hull’s unbeaten run continues, they’re so far the only team to have played three without conceding and that’s another point towards their survival.
For Villa it was the first point of the season and for what it’s worth took us out of the bottom three. The team selection and the substitutes being made also seemed strange but by now we should be used to Unai’s ideas.
There were some bright moments – at last we created chances, George Hemming is looking a more than useful prospect and most importantly Zion Suzuki has stepped into the huge gap left by Emiliano Martinez. He might not be able to pull off the spectacular saves made by the former best keeper in the world, although he hasn’t yet needed to. What Suzuki has shown is good handling, a calm approach and distribution unseen since the distant days of Jim Cumbes.
It’s another match closer to injuries healing, suspensions being served and players being match-fit. We’re now getting to the two games a week part of the season and we’ll need everyone back for them.
