Aston Villa: Player Grades vs Hull City AFC
By Josh Tonti
One match, one point. Aston Villa drew Hull City in their Championship opener on Saturday. Below we share our player grades from Villa Park.
After an exciting first half full of life, Villa produced an absolute dud in the second. Consequently, the club dropped two points at home after Jarrod Bowen equalized for Hull City.
Gabby Agbonlahor opened the scoring with an open net finish. Alan Hutton’s run from the right produced a sizzling ground cross that went behind Aston Villa striker, Scott Hogan.
That was the whole story of Steve Bruce’s squad. They reverted to reactionary football after picking up an early lead. Bruce waited far too long to influence the game with a system change.
For many in the claret and blue, it was a tale of two halves.
7.0. Johnstone came up huge late in the first half with a double save on Fraizer Campbell. Aside from that, he was assured and powerful everything Hull threw at him. Not at fault for Hull’s equalizer. Could be a huge year for the 24-year old.. GK. Aston Villa. SAM JOHNSTONE
ALAN HUTTON. 6.0. The career renaissance at 32 years of age continues for Alan Hutton. He assisted Gabby Agbonlahor’s strike with a deadly ground cross. Defended well against Hull’s left flank, but was poorer in the second; he was not able to block Bowen’s goal.. RB. Aston Villa
6.0. Quiet evening for James Chester, but assured as always. Nearly caught flat-footed on a long ball to Fraizer Campbell.. RCB. Aston Villa. JAMES CHESTER
JOHN TERRY. 6.5. Whistled for a foul in the first half, which could have been a bookable offence. Threatened from dead ball situations.. LCB. Aston Villa
5.5. Got forward quite often with several crosses into the eighteen yard box. Hull’s attacks mainly came from their right flank, however. Caught out too much for my liking.. LB. Aston Villa. NEIL TAYLOR
6.5. Elmohamady threatened all match. Worked hard off the ball as well. Surprised me just how fast he is.. RM. Aston Villa. AHMED ELMOHAMADY
5.0. Not the best of debuts for new signing Glenn Whelan. The Irishman was booked in the first half and threw an elbow on a subsequent aerial challenge. Very slow, but his better days will come. CDM. Aston Villa. GLENN WHELAN
Aston Villa. LEANDRO BACUNA. 5.0. Bacuna’s passing left a lot to be desired, but his dribbling relieved pressure. Constantly on the ball with deadly turns. Absolutely woeful in the second half, later subbed off for Andre Green. At fault for several turnovers.. CM
HENRI LANSBURY. 6.5. Fought hard all match long after taking a hard hit on a challenge. Played a variety of roles, too, both as an attacking midfielder and later in centrally in a flat 4-4-2.. CAM. Aston Villa
Aston Villa. GABBY AGBONLAHOR. 6.0. A six probably seems fair for Gabby, despite scoring Villa’s lone goal. He had a 1-on-1 saved by Allan McGregor in the first five minutes. Worked hard defensively but Aina and Grosicki has field day.. LM
6.0. Powerful first half in which he nearly scored once or twice, and set-up Gabby perfectly on another. Hold-up play was terrific and really ran the channels well. Completely anonymous in the second half and subbed off. Honestly not sure if he touched the ball after 45 minutes.. CF. Aston Villa. SCOTT HOGAN
Aston Villa return to action mid-week with an opening round fixture of the Carabao Cup against Colchester United. Colchester lost to Accrington Stanley in their League Two opener on Saturday.