Villa get their season off to a flying start

Ah me d El mo hama dy struck against his former club as Aston Villa responded to a summer of uncertainty with victory in their Championship opener at the KCOM Stadium.

Play maker Jack Greal - ish started for Villa, possibly pouring cold water on reports linking him with a move to Tottenham, but the 22-year-old struggled to impress ahead of Thursday’s transfer deadline.

Jed Steer prevented Villa from beginning their season by conceding a firstminute goal with a fine save to deny Jarrod Bowen from a tight angle.

But the goal keeper should have done better for Hull’ s opener shortly afterwards, failing to punch clear a free-kick which allowed Evandro to hook the ball into the bottom corner.

Poor defending allowed Villa to equalise in the 14th minute when Tommy Elphick headed in unchallenged from a corner.

Conor Hourihane curled a free -kick just over from 25 yards as the visitors started to knock on the door.

Bruce’s side got the goal they deserved in the 70 th minute through Elmohamady, who fired into the bottom corner following a poor clearance by goalkeeper David Marshall. The winger, who won promotion to the Premier League during his time at Hull, refused to celebrate.

City were architects of their own down fall and when their defence stood off Alan Hutton five minutes later, the S cot burst into the box and picked out the far corner to seal Villa’s victory.