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By Caroline Cheese
2210: That's your lot then. Well done Villa, ending a run of no win in nine. Tough luck Hull, now with one win in 19. I'll see you tomorrow for a bit of Arsenal v Manchester United. Should be good, no?
2205: At this moment, Villa goalscorer John Carew is taking the honours in Player Rater with 7.45, ahead of goal setter-upper Ashley Young. You're all wrong though. Boaz Myhill was the man of the match and he's only on 6.73. Thankfully, you can right that wrong... Aston Villa v Hull Player Rater
2203: Hull's final three games are: Stoke (h), Bolton (a) and Manchester United (h). Their fans might be even more interested in next Monday's game between Newcastle and Middlesbrough, where a draw would suit them down to the ground.
2200: Aston Villa hang on for the win which allows them to reclaim fifth place from Everton - and more importantly perhaps, guarantees them European football next season. Signs of life from Hull at the end there, but they remain three points above the drop zone.
2158: FULL-TIME Aston Villa 1-0 Hull
2157: Corner headed out by Curtis Davies for another corner... but Villa survive.
2156: A Hull corner and here comes keeper Bo Myhill... It comes out to George Boateng, who shoots through a crowd of players and wins another corner.
2155: Running the clock down now. Nigel Reo-Coker replaces Stiliyan Petrov.
2154: Chance for Hull but Manucho's header is gathered by Brad Friedel. Villa make a change, with Ashley Young - who was hurt in a challenge a few moments ago - replaced by Craig Gardner.
2153: Four minutes of added time, and Hull are now playing with the sort of urgency which might have been useful for the rest of the game.
2151: Sam Ricketts launches a couple of long throws into the area, but Villa cope. Only a couple of minutes left.
From Big Andy, at Villa Park, via text on 81111: "Regardless if the Tigers go down, their fans have made a huge showing here, and at the other grounds. They deserve their plaudits!"
2148: George Boateng's crunching tackle leaves Zat Knight wincing, but the Villa defender gets back to his feet. John Carew is replaced by Emile Heskey.
2146: Andy Dawson swings over a free-kick from the right and Kamil Zayatte gets a touch but Brad Friedel collects.
2144: Hull beginning to string some passes together now, Nicky Barmby showing his class in midfield. They win a corner - but Dean Marney's delivery is flippin' awful and doesn't clear the first man, the footballing equivalent of first-degree murder.
2141: Decent work from Hull on the right. Nicky Barmby crosses but the ball is a touch behind Daniel Cousin, and his hooked shot is collected by Brad Friedel.
2140: That is another world-class save from Boaz Myhill. Zat Knight heads the free-kick across goal and Gabby Agbonlahor is on the end of it - but Myhill shows lightning-quick reactions to paw it over for the corner. Agbonlahor was offside from the free-kick, but no flag. Doesn't seem right.
2139: Kamil Zayatte is the first man into Mike Dean's book for hauling down Gabby Agbonlahor as the Villa striker looks to escape.
2138: A corner for Hull, but the header from Kamil Zayatte dribbles well wide.
2135: Phil Brown makes his final change, striker Manucho replacing midfielder Kevin Kilbane. About 22 minutes remaining.
2132: If that last incident wasn't a sign of the mess Hull have become, I don't know what is. Andy Dawson takes the second free-kick but it clips the wall and is easily cleared.
2130: Richard Garcia is tackled from behind by Curtis Davies and Mike Dean awards the free-kick. It's about 35 yards out... and that is an absolutely laughable effort. Kevin Kilbane backheels it and Daniel Cousin doesn't seem ready. He belatedly runs towards it and is so, so lucky that he is clipped by the onrushing James Milner. Another free-kick about a yard further forward...
2127: Another good save from Bo Myhill, this time from James Milner's effort. The Hull keeper is doing his best to keep his team in this.
2124: John Carew wins the header from a corner despite the attentions of two defenders but he can't get any direction on it. Kamil Zayatte, who is in front of Carew, inexplicably throws his hand up towards the ball but fails to connect, which is a bit lucky.
2122: James Milner trots forward and smashes a shot wide. Hull have managed one effort on target so far...
Robbie Savage on BBC 5 Live: "When Hull get to the final third of the pitch, they just run out of options. You can see why they are where they are in the table."
2117: Free-kick on the halfway line for Hull... Kevin Kilbane heads the long ball harmlessly into the keeper's arms.
2115: Signs of an injury there though as Kamil Zayatte is caught by John Carew and hops towards the touchline... He's OK though.
2114: Geovanni is just ambling back to the Hull bench, and there are no signs of an injury.
From LFCfan128 on 606: "I think Hull are playing for a draw, having just one striker up front. I don't think there will be any changes to their tactics until there are 15-20 mins to go." Join the debate on 606
2109: Brilliant save, Boaz Myhill, pushing Gareth Barry's swerving shot around the post after the midfielder had twisted and turned to make the space. Geovanni was arguing with Daniel Cousin as they went off at half-time so some suggestion the substitution could have something to do with that.
2107: Off we go again then.
2105: Phil Brown has seen enough of Geovanni. He'll be replaced by Nicky Barmby for the second half. Surprising?
From Chris, working hard in Hull, via text on 81111: "Lacking in confidence we may be, but Brown can instil fight into the lads! Not looking promising though, Villa haven't lost when scoring first."
2059: John Carew's goal earns him top marks over on Player Rater . A relatively meagre 7.57 is enough for him to take a narrow lead over Ashley Young. Plenty of time for that to change, people... Aston Villa v Hull Player Rater
2053: A tight opening to the match, but Villa have been on top since they opened the scoring. Hull look like a side lacking confidence and imagination. Which indeed they are, aren't they?
2050: HALF-TIME Aston Villa 1-0 Hull
2049: Kamil Zayatte slips, allowing Gabby Agbonlahor in - but Boaz Myhill saves his defender's blushes with a smart save.
From Sinbad The Saviour on 606: "I don't think I've ever seen five teams so desperate to be relegated. Only three of them can go down but all five of them seem to have given up already!" Join the debate on 606
2045: Ashley Young dances his way into the penalty area and then goes over far too easily after the slightest of touches from Sam Ricketts. No pen.
2043: Hull win a free-kick about 40 yards out - and Geovanni sees a shooting opportunity. It turns out to be an opportunity to completely embarrass himself with a terrible effort.
2040: It's all Villa now, Ashley Young skinning George Boateng over on the right. Gabby Agbonlahor eventually takes the shot, but it's deflected behind.
2037: And now John Carew wants a penalty after he is challenged from behind in the box. Nothing doing there though.
2035: GOAL Aston Villa 1-0 Hull George Boateng loses the ball on the edge of the Villa penalty area and the home side counter-attack at pace. Ashley Young picks up the ball in acres of space on the left and he curls a right-footed inswinging cross in for John Carew, who stays just about onside to divert it home.
2031: Daniel Cousin is a lucky, lucky boy. The striker dives in two-footed on Curtis Davies, prompting some angry words from the Villa defender. Referee Mike Dean sees nothing wrong there.
2028: Gabby Agbonlahor skips clear but is halted by an offside flag. We could do with a goal...
2025: Michael Turner fouls Gabby Agbonlahor to give Villa a free-kick 25 yards out - James Milner's dipping effort is well tipped over by Boaz Myhill.
From Sam in Northumbria University floor 5, via text on 81111: "I'm praying for a Villa win, preferably by a few to pull Hull's goal difference down further. The Toon to stay up on goal difference."
2020: Lots of effort out there... not much else for the crowd - including England boss Fabio Capello - to get excited about.
2018: Some neat play from Hull in midfield but then Dean Marney boots an aimless ball forward, about 20 yards from where Daniel Cousin is waiting.
Robbie Savage on BBC 5 Live: "The back four of Hull are whacking the ball up to Daniel Cousin and the midfield are pushing up, looking for the second ball. Already they've had two chances from it."
From Billy the Stat, Preston, via text on 81111: "Re 1947: when you consider in six of those 11 games for Hull, they drew, and in both of Villa's last two games, they took the lead and then drew, it may suggest this will be a draw. Unless nobody takes the lead, resulting in a... erm, draw. Let's just hope for lots of goals, eh?!"
2011: Villa are so close to taking the lead. Stiliyan Petrov crosses from the right and John Carew glances a header just wide at the far post.
2010: Ian Ashbee's return lasts only a few seconds before he signals to the bench that he won't be able to continue. Dean Marney replaces the stricken skipper.
2009: The stretcher is on for Ian Ashbee but he manages to hobble off. That was one full-blooded challenge, but the Hull skipper is back on.
2007: Summing up the frantic start to this game, Ian Ashbee and James Milner go flying in for a 50-50 and it's the Hull man who comes off worst.
2004: High-tempo start... Luke Young's picks up a clever backheel from John Carew and crosses low into the box - but Kamil Zayatte stretches out a leg to clear.
2003: Long throw from Hull and it comes out to skipper Ian Ashbee, who smacks a volley just wide of Brad Friedel's left-hand post.
2001: Ashley Young receives his PFA Young Player of the Year award in front of his home fans before running off to join his team-mates. And we're off.
1957: Out they come at Villa Park.
From Neil, Arborfield, via text on 81111: "Re Juan at 1947: The champions get £14.4m and every place gets £750,000 less than the team above. I'm not sure if that's a lot these days when players are being bought for 100 million."
1950: Villa boss Martin O'Neill was on BBC 5 Live a few moments ago. He admitted his team has simply run out of steam this season. Coincidentally, Robbie Savage was in the studio and told O'Neill he is the best manager he has played under. "That's very kind of you," responded O'Neill. "Have you been drinking?"
1947: Hull boss Phil Brown has done my work for me with an excellent preview for this match: "Villa have gone ahead 14 times this season, we have gone ahead 11 times and neither side has been beaten when they have gone ahead. That suggests the first goal is going to play a major part in the outcome."
From Juan in Seattle on 606: "Re 1926: I believe there is also a difference of a couple of million pounds between finishing 5th and 6th. Isn't that worth the extra effort?" Join the debate on 606
From Dave via text on 81111: "I'm optimistically predicting 8-0 victory for Hull. Rose tinted glasses?"
Yes.
From Liam via text on 81111: "Re 1922: It may be a big 'if' to win tonight, but it was also a big 'if' to get promoted last year!"
1931: TEAM NEWS Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill goes for a front pairing of Gabby Agbonlahor and John Carew, with Emile Heskey dropping to the bench. Luke Young returns in defence, replacing Carlos Cuellar. Richard Garcia and Craig Fagan come into Hull's midfield, Nicky Barmby and Dean Marney the men to miss out. Daniel Cousin replaces Caleb Folan up front.
1926: Villa saw Champions League football officially slip away at the weekend as Arsenal moved 13 points clear in fourth. Indeed, lying seven points above seventh-placed West Ham, Villa's season is all but over. All that's left for them, as a wise old colleague has just pointed out, is to decide the relegation places: as well as Hull, they also play Boro and Newcastle before the end of the season.
From HurricaneRun on 606: "1-0 to Hull, George "The Boat" Boateng to score a 25-yard top corner screamer! Up the Tigers!" Join the debate on 606
1922: Still, what a very, very good weekend it's been for the Tigers. Every team around them lost, meaning if they win at Villa, they'll suddenly be six points clear of the relegation zone with only three games remaining. That is one gigantic "if"…
1919: In the form table (ie the last six games), Hull sit bottom of the Prem, while Villa lie 17th, above Newcastle and Sunderland. The Tigers have won once in 18 league matches, while Villa are on their worst run in two years after going nine games without a win.
1915: Hello there. Welcome along to a game between two of the worst sides in the Premier League (on current form). Should be a classic...
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