Premier League: Hull City v Aston Villa match preview

A look ahead to this weekend’s Premier League fixture at the KC Stadium

Steve Bruce's Hull take on Aston Villa (GETTY IMAGES)

The meeting of Hull and Aston Villa brings together two teams on a good run of form and hoping to cement their places in the top half of the table at this early stage of the season.

Other than two defeats to Chelsea and Manchester City, Steve Bruce’s Hull side have looked at home in the Premier League recording two wins and two draws and currently lie eighth in the table. Although winger Robbie Brady has grabbed the headlines for his goals this season, Sone Aluko has proven with his pace and skill he has real Premier League quality and the ability to trouble even the most settled defences problems.

Although questions were asked about the Premier League credentials of Paul Lambert’s relatively young side at the beginning of the season, Aston Villa are in the top half of the table, one place their opponents this weekend. After succumbing to three straight Premier League defeats Aston Villa have recovered well and won back to back league matches against Norwich and most spectacularly last weekend against Man City showing this young side can mix it with the Premier League’s best. Despite star striker Christian Benteke out for up to six weeks with a hip injury, after last week’s victory Villa will travel to Hull in confident mood.

KICK-OFF: Saturday, 3.00pm

PAST THREE MEETINGS…

Hull 0 Aston Villa 2 (Agbonlahor, Milner), Premier League, April 2010

Aston Villa 3 (Dunne, Milner, Carew) Hull 0, Premier League, December 2009

Aston Villa 1 (Carew) Hull 0, Premier League, May 2009

STATS…

Hull have not scored in a match against Aston Villa since 1987 when they beat them 2-1.

Since 1987 Aston Villa have played Hull seven times in the league and scored sixteen goals without reply.

Hull have only scored two goals from open play this season, the joint second lowest in the league.

Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke is the second top scorer in the Premier League so far with four goals in six matches.

ODDS…

Hull to win: 2.44

Aston Villa to win: 3.3

Draw: 3.35

TV: Highlights on BBC1 at 10.30pm