But it’s a sore point for Bruce on his Tigers return

assertive after the interval with man of the match Angus MacDonald forcing Villa keeper Sam Johnstone to parry his shot away.

The result leaves Villa in fourth, nine points off Cardiff in second, while Hull boss Nigel Adkins (below) has a six-point cushion in 18th place over Barnsley who occupy the third relegation spot.

Adomah’s low ball across the box was intercepted by Tigers keeper Allan McGregor in the first attack of the game and the Ghanaian should have put Villa ahead in the 10th minute.

Snodgrass curled the ball into the sixyard box where it found Adomah who could only hook it over.

Abel Hernandez, who had scored three goals in three games, fired the ball into the net but the linesman had long flagged for offside and although both teams were prodding and probing, there had been little in the way of clear-cut chances. Snodgrass curled a shot at McGregor after making room in the area and defender MacDonald had to make a last-ditch interception to prevent Lewis Grabban from going clear on goal after Adomah had slid the ball through. Harry Wilson turned and shot wide for the Tigers and John Terry glanced Jack Grealish’s corner over, but the biggest cheer of the half came when Snodgrass was booked for a challenge on Jackson Irvine. Michael Dawson and MacDonald both produced perfectly-timed challenges inside the box as Villa pressed, but despite the visitors’ greater possession and threat it was goalless at half-time.

Hull forced the first serious save from Johnstone two minutes after the restart when Sebastian Larsson’s free-kick dropped for MacDonald, with the keeper parrying his low shot, while some appealed for a penalty, claiming the ball had struck a Villa hand on the way through.

The Tigers were more assertive and Alan Hutton had to be alert to rob Hernandez who was moving into the six-yard box.

Hull were enjoying far more in attack but there was little composure from either side in the Villa box.

Bruce threw on Jonathan Kodjia, last season’s top scorer, for his first appearance since October following an ankle injury.

Jon Toral fired over for Hull and Henri Lansbury nipped in front of Jarrod Bowen just in time as the ball came across the Villa box.

Marcus Henriksen hooked the ball across the face of the Villa goal and Dawson produced a well-timed clearance as the spoils were shared.