Three games into the Premier League season, Hull City have yet to concede a goal. A disciplined 0-0 at MKM Stadium against Aston Villa extended that record on Saturday, with the Tigers’ back five denying Emery’s side despite the visitors holding 74% of the ball and generating 13 shots. According to Sky Sports, it was also Unai Emery’s 200th game in charge at Villa, a milestone that brought no reward, as fotmob.com noted Aston Villa remain winless and goalless in the league.
Key Moments
- 39′, Ajayi picked up a yellow card for a foul, Hull’s only booking before the interval, as the Tigers looked to disrupt Villa’s passing rhythm in the final third.
- 63′, Hull manager Sergej Jakirovic made the first of several changes, withdrawing Stroud and bringing on Thomas in a move aimed at adding width and energy on the flanks.
- 67′, Gourna-Douath was booked for a foul, Hull’s second yellow of the afternoon, prompting Jakirovic to pull him off at the 82-minute mark.
- 75′, Emery responded with a triple substitution, sending on Garnacho, Alysson Edward, and Ruggeri to inject pace and creativity, but Suzuki was barely tested in the Villa goal.
- 85′, A late double change from Villa brought Abraham and Wan-Bissaka into the action, but Hull’s defensive shape held firm through four minutes of stoppage time.
Tactical Breakdown
Hull set up in a 5-4-1 that was always going to prioritize shape over ambition. With only 26% possession and 229 total passes, Jakirovic’s side had no interest in trading punches. They sat deep, compressed space, and forced Aston Villa’s 683-pass afternoon into largely harmless territory. Four saves from Tzolakis were all that was ultimately required, and only one of Villa’s 13 shots hit the target.
The second half illustrated the gap between Emery’s attacking intent and his side’s execution. After making five substitutions, including the triple change at 75 minutes that brought on Garnacho and Alysson Edward, Villa still managed just a handful of dangerous moments. Hull’s own substitutions, particularly the introduction of Thomas for Stroud at 63 minutes, helped the Tigers close out the game with more defensive solidity on the left side.
For Villa, the numbers are uncomfortable. Ten shots inside the box, five blocked, and yet a single shot on goal for the whole afternoon against a side that had been playing a defensive 5-4-1 from the first whistle. Jackson was isolated throughout and left after 85 minutes without a meaningful chance. J. McGinn and the midfield generated plenty of circulation but rarely the quality of ball that turns possession into pressure.
Player Ratings
Match Context
Standings
Head To Head
Verdict
Hull City sit second in the Premier League table with seven points from three games and no goals conceded, a record that thehullstory.com described as a ‘dream start’ to the season. For Aston Villa, the numbers are harder to ignore: three league games played, no wins, no goals, and now a 17th-place ranking that reflects a side yet to find its footing under Emery. The Spaniard told fotmob.com he believes Villa did enough to win, and the statistics back up the attacking intent if not the finishing. Something has to click before the gap to the top half widens further.