1-0

*Villa leave it late*

A last-gasp Kamil Zayatte own goal handed Aston Villa a 1-0 win over Hull City and another late Premier League victory

Aston Villa struck with another late goal to beat Hull City 1-0 at the KC Stadium and regain fourth place in the Premier League.

After pegging back Arsenal with a last-gasp equaliser on Boxing Day, Martin O’Neill’s men did it again thanks to an own goal from City defender Kamil Zayatte.

The Guinea international sliced a cross from Ashley Young past Boaz Myhill in the 88th minute to hand the Tigers a third straight defeat.

It was rough luck on City who looked to have stopped the rot after conceding nine goals in their last two games and Phil Brown’s side have now won just once in their last 11 games.

They were denied the chance of a possible injury-time equaliser when referee Steve Bennett changed his mind over a penalty decision against Ashley Young for handball as Villa moved back into the UEFA Champions League places.

*Frustrated*

With five changes to the side that was hammered 5-1 at Manchester City on Boxing Day and given a public dressing down by Brown, the Tigers frustrated Villa and looked value for a share of the points as a first clean sheet since October beckoned.

Villa failed to make a worthwhile chance but have made a habit of forcing positive results and did it again when Ashley Young got away from Michael Ricketts and forced Zayatte into a rare error as they secured their fourth win in five games.

It was not without a scare, though, as Bennett pointed to the spot in injury time as a Luke Young header bounced against his own crossbar from a corner.

Ashley Young had raised an arm but did not make contact with the ball and Bennett changed his mind after Villa protests and consulting an assistant referee.

The Tigers were unfortunate not to take an early lead when Nicky Barmby was penalised for an aerial challenge on Villa keeper Brad Friedel, despite no apparent foul, before pressurising Nigel Reo-Coker into slicing the ball into his own net.

*Stalemate*

But the home side then went into defensive mode to create a stalemate for the rest of the first half as Villa failed to make any headway in attack.

Gabriel Agbonlahor and Ashley Young were well kept in check by the City defence, although Zayatte was punished with a yellow card for a foul on Gabriel Agbonlahor.

Villa captain Gareth Barry was given one sight of goal but, with his unfavoured right foot, he volleyed over after Boaz Myhill had punched clear from a James Milner corner.

Both sides raised the tempo after the break with no shortage of commitment as they chased maximum points to finish the year on a high.

Barry and Stiliyan Petrov were both booked as Villa’s frustrations began to surface as a weak shot from the former was all they could muster as an attacking threat.

City had their moments going forward, with Bernard Mendy probing dangerously down the right and veteran Barmby toiling tirelessly up front.

Peter Halmosi had a shot blocked by Luke Young but City’s only real chance fell to Barmby as he headed a Mendy cross against Reo-Coker.

The Tigers then looked to settle for a point but even that was denied in a dramatic finale as Villa continued to march on with a seventh away win.