Hull City stalemate, Suzuki praise and player ratings

Aston Villa were held to a 0-0 draw by newly-promoted Hull City at the MKM Stadium on Saturday, extending the hosts’ unbeaten start to the Premier League season. The Tigers, who stunned Manchester United on the opening day, registered their third consecutive clean sheet against a Villa side who created enough to win the game but couldn’t find a finish.

Nicolas Jackson headed narrowly wide from an early Ian Maatsen cross, and Villa dominated from there, taking 67 per cent of first-half possession and producing an expected goals figure of 1.74 to Hull’s 0.58. John McGinn and Emi Buendía both missed big chances after the break, while Hull’s clearest opening came just after the hour when Mohamed Belloumi rattled the crossbar. Sergej Jakirović’s side saw the game out in front of a home crowd that played its part.

Unai Emery singled out summer signing Zion Suzuki for praise after the match, with the Japanese goalkeeper keeping his first clean sheet in his second appearance since his debut against Arsenal. “Today, he did another step forward more with a clean sheet,” Emery told the Birmingham Mail, noting Suzuki’s growing influence on Villa’s build-up play.

John Townley’s player ratings highlighted Jackson’s patience despite limited service, while making Suzuki Villa’s top performer with an eight after four saves and the long ball that set up Buendía’s chance. The result leaves Villa with one point from their opening three matches, following defeats to Brighton and Arsenal.

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