*Carew seals long awaited win*

Aston Villa held on to win 1-0 at home to struggling Hull City at Villa Park on Monday thanks to a first-half strike from John Carew.

The three points mean that Villa have secured European football for next season while the result means that the Tigers’ Premier League future is anything but secured.

The visitors began brightly but it was not long before Villa began to make their superior attacking talents tell with Ashley Young in particular causing havoc down either flank.

It was the newly crowned PFA Young Player of the Year who created the only goal as he crossed right footed from the left wing to find Carew free in the box to simply divert the ball home.

The Hull defenders protested for offside but replays showed that the Norwegian was level with the last man.

Hull manager Phil Brown brought Nick Barmby on for Geovanni at half-time and the change brought more fluidity to the Tigers’ play as they pushed for an equaliser.

In truth, apart from a succession of corners at the death and a free-kick that none of the visiting players wanted to attack, Villa were fairly untroubled but that did not stop the fans’ edginess spreading to the players as they looked to hold out.

*Relief*

As referee Mike Dean blew the final whistle relief rather than joy was the main feeling amongst Villa players and fans alike as they claimed their first win in 13 games while Hull City remain three points off the drop zone.

Hull, with only one win from the previous 18 league games, made a positive start and skipper Ian Ashbee was only just off target with a low volley.

Villa winger James Milner and Ashbee both needed treatment after a full-blooded but fair touchline collision.

Ashbee came off the worse and, although he tried to continue, he was clearly struggling and was replaced after nine minutes by Dean Marney.

Villa came close to taking the lead a minute later when a right-wing cross from Stiliyan Petrov was met by Carew whose glancing header flew only a couple of feet wide of the far post.

Hull defender Michael Turner conceded a free-kick in a dangerous position 20 yards out when he brought down Ashley Young.

And Myhill had to be alert to tip over at full stretch a curling effort from Milner.

Daniel Cousin was fortunate to escape punishment from referee Mike Dean after a lunging challenge on Villa defender Curtis Davies.

Then after 34 minutes Carew broke the deadlock with his 14th goal of the campaign after a lightning counter-attack.

Gareth Barry made the initial break before feeding Ashley Young on the left flank and he had time to check back inside before delivering an inviting dipping cross.

Carew was the first to react and he diverted the ball past the dive of Myhill into the corner of the net.

Geovanni showed a glimpse of his talent when he burst into the Villa box but he dragged his shot across the face of goal.

Myhill then did well to tip over a rising Gabriel Agbonlahor shot in injury time.

*On the offensive*

Villa were soon back on the offensive at the start of the second period and Myhill again had to be alert to turn aside a drive from Barry.

Milner ventured forward unopposed and found the target with a low, skidding drive which was again blocked by Myhill.

Andy Dawson saw a free-kick ricochet off the defensive wall for a corner in a rare moment of concern for the home side.

Kamil Zayatte became the first player to be booked after 77 minutes when he brought down Agbonlahor in full flight.

From Milner’s free-kick, Carew headed back across goal and Agbonlahor was denied at point-blank range by Myhill.