Bruce Hoping to Capitalise on Villa’s “Tough Time” Despite Recent Results Against Visitors

Hull City v Aston Villa 2015

With an improvement in both team’s performances over the weekend it’s difficult to call this one, though Hull will undoubtedly be feeling the more confident after taking a point from the Etihad. Villa finally got a goal though, and have performed well against Steve Bruce’s men in recent clashes…

Bruce on Villa

“Villa are a big club with a big status but they’ve had a tough time over the past couple of years. We hope that we can capitalise on that.

“It now turns into one of the big games because we have a run of games at home against teams in the bottom half of the division.

“The period that will ultimately define our season is upon us now.”

Lambert on Hull City

“Well we’ve got an opportunity tomorrow to go and do that [match the Chelsea performance] and if we play the way we did on Saturday with that level and that commitment and that tempo of the game, we will be in a shout of winning the game.

“We have to take that form from Saturday right through the remainder of these games and if we do that, we will certainly win more games.

“It’s a tough, tough game at Hull. Steve Bruce is in the same position as ourselves where you are fighting everything to get results. They are a tough team to play against but if we do what we did on Saturday we will be right in the game.”

Memory Match

30th December 2008 Hull City 0 Aston Villa 1

An own goal from Kamil Zayatte secured the points for the away side. With both teams struggling in the goals department it might take something like this to open the scoring on Tuesday…

Hull – Last five matches at home: W 1, D 1, L 3

Villa – Last five matches away: W 1, L 4

The last time Villa lost at Hull was in 1987. We’ve won three out of the last four meetings at Hull (in all competitions). 

One to Watch

Dame N’Doye – Hull’s last minute January signing made a substitute appearance against Man City and could be involved on Tuesday

 

 

Facts to Sweep Under the Carpet

For a team once known for our counter-attacking ability it’s been frustrating to see us struggle away from home. Lambert has switched our style this season as has been well documented, but the fact is we’ve lost our last four away matches in the league.

Even our defensive resolve has suffered of late – before the Arsenal thrashing that was one of few redeeming qualities.

Consistency over 90 minutes has been an area for concern for Lambert’s side and in the last four league games, Villa have been losing at both half time and full time.

Even the most cynical of Villa supporters would admit that the performance against Chelsea was better than some witnessed lately. Despite this, and clear attempts to inject some creativity into the side with the inclusion of Gil and Sinclair, we only mustered ONE shot on target against Mourinho’s men this weekend.

What We Pray the Football Gods Will Provide

Now that Villa have shown they can score goals, an early strike along with some backs-to-the-wall defending could be key against Hull.

On paper it looks to be the sort of game decided by one goal particularly when you look into the stats at the KC Stadium.

Hull have failed to score in five of their last seven home matches in the league and if we were to bag a goal early and silence the crowd we’d have a chance of taking a point or three from the game.

Although Benteke was dropped against Chelsea it would be nice to have his physical presence up front again for Tuesday’s match – hopefully a spell on the bench will have galvanised the Belgian striker.

Why Villa Have Got This Game in the Bag

Villa have caused problems for Hull City in recent fixtures and surprisingly it does seem that Lambert has the upper hand over Bruce’s team.

We’ve won seven of the last 8 matches against Hull (in all competitions) and have kept a clean sheet in the last four away games against them too.

In terms of the players, Andi Weimann particularly enjoys games against Hull and has scored three in his last two appearances against them.

Last time we visited the KC Stadium it was a dull 0-0 encounter but the signs point to a different game this time around – Hull have managed just three clean sheets in their last 13 home games.

Villa are hardly in a better position than Hull in terms of the league table but the onus will be on the home side to control the game. If Villa can frustrate the crowd and the nerves set in for Bruce’s side, there’s a chance Villa can snatch a result in keeping with the fixture’s history.

UTV.

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3 COMMENTS

  1. Well, the asteroid did strike, and we are doomed!
    After hearing the mutterings of Lambert, we are doomed for the next 4 years playing ugly football, ffs that man is a mental case!!!!!!

  2. I worry about this game like no other, a clash against a side as shocking as us, and we have to win it by hook or by crook. Losing does not bear thinking about, it would be like being hit by an asteroid which leaves a dark cloud over us.

    I’ve made a conscious decision not to tune into, or watch this game tonight, my nerves wont take it, I’ll not even look at the result until tomorrow morning, because the wrong result will leave me sleepless.

    Lambert and his merry men have a lot to answer for, putting us in this position is a disgrace, but the manager himself looks like he doesn’t give a toss, continually mumbling through his bland rhetoric. Whatever the result tonight, you can be sure he’ll be getting plenty of sleep, it’s a safe, secure job for him, and a nightmare for us. UTV

  3. Let’s pretend it’s Penarol – they might be more motivated then. Are you Penarol in disguise.

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