Aston Villa come from behind to defeat Hull City in opening EFL match

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WALSALL, ENGLAND – JULY 25: Aston Villa goalkeeper Jed Steer in action during a friendly match between Aston Villa and West Ham United at Banks’ Stadium on July 25, 2018 in Walsall, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) /

A veteran starting XI named by Steve Bruce came from behind to defeat Hull City in matchweek 1. Goals from Tommy Elphick, Ahmed Elmohamady and Alan Hutton secured all three points.

That was fun, eh?

Aston Villa Football Club earned their first opening weekend win in three years in a 3-1 defeat of Hull City. The Tigers proved a fruitful opponent for much of the first half as they threatened inside of one minute. Jarrod Bowen found space between Neil Taylor and James Chester as he unleashed a shot into the side netting.

Things settled down thereafter, for a time. The home side opened the scoring seven minutes in with a half fluky/half poor clearance from Aston Villa. A cross whipped into the box and goalkeeper Jed Steer punched the ball out fairly solidly, but right to Hull midfielder Evandro. The Brazilian, making his EFL debut, looped the ball back in as it evaded Steer, Hutton, Elphick among others.

That lead would only last seven minutes. Tommy Elphick equalized for Aston Villa, his first for the club, with a completely unmarked header from a corner. I mean, completely unmarked. Elphick was on the beach and he just had to find the ocean with his header. Jack Grealish picked-up the assist.

Aston Villa weathered the Hull storm shortly after the break. A flurry of half-chances evaded The Tigers. Thereafter, it was Villa in control. The likeliest of all goalscorers, Ahmed Elmohamady and Alan Hutton made a pair of solo runs for the claret and blues’ second and third goals.

Without further ado, player ratings:

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