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

By Josh Tonti

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)
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) /
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TELFORD, ENGLAND – JULY 14: Conor Hourihane of Aston Villa during the Pre-season friendly between AFC Telford United and Aston Villa at New Bucks Head Stadium on July 14, 2018 in Telford, England. (Photo by Malcolm Couzens/Getty Images)
TELFORD, ENGLAND – JULY 14: Conor Hourihane of Aston Villa during the Pre-season friendly between AFC Telford United and Aston Villa at New Bucks Head Stadium on July 14, 2018 in Telford, England. (Photo by Malcolm Couzens/Getty Images) /

A mostly veteran side was called on to deliver in the offensive third.

7.5. Glenn Whelan turned back the clock with a quietly-impressive performance. 81% passing, 3 tackled, and cut passing lanes everywhere. He shouldn’t start a majority of Aston Villa’s games, but the Republic of Ireland international has a major part to play this season. Rotation is key, at times.. CDM. Aston Villa. GLENN WHELAN

Aston Villa. AHMED ELMOHAMADY. 7.5. In an ideal world, Elmohamady isn’t the preferred right wing option, but the Egyptian delivered on Monday. <strong>Scored and assisted </strong>for Villa, meeting almost half the production he brought all of last season. Needs to be better in possession to be an automatic starter.. RM

7.5. Three shots-on-target, two key passes, and nipped the crossbar with one free kick. An impressive display from Conor Hourihane. At times, he was Villa’s only creative outlet in the first half, save for Jack Grealish. Racked-up an <strong>assist.</strong>. RCM. Aston Villa. CONOR HOURIHANE

LCM. Aston Villa. JACK GREALISH. 8.0. 95.1% passing and drew <strong><em>seven </em></strong>fouls. Somehow, Hull City escaped without a card,but it could have been 2 or 3 easily. Hopefully this wan’t Jack’s final appearance in the claret and blue, but if it was, the three points were huge. Aston Villa can win the league with Jack Grealish. Replaced by Birkir Bjarnason with eight minutes to play.

LM. Aston Villa. ALBERT ADOMAH. 6.0. The end product was missing, but Albert Adomah threatened well for spells at a time. The Ghanaian almost set-up Grealish for an easy finish. Andre Green replaced him on the 67th-minute.

JONATHAN KODJIA. 6.0. Weird game for Kodjia. He was way too selfish at a moment or two, and definitely didn’t help defensively. However, at other points, he showed that tremendous ability to create for himself. Replaced by Rushian Hepburn-Murphy with a quarter-hour to play.. CF. Aston Villa

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