Aston Villa’s Winless Streak Continues Against Hull City

Aston Villa’s dismal start to the Premier League season continued earlier today, September 5, when they were held to a goalless draw by newly promoted Hull City.

Unai Emery’s side are still without a win after three matches, having already lost to Brighton and Arsenal. Villa stay 17th, with a point.

Nicolas Jackson went close to putting Villa ahead inside two minutes when he headed Ian Maatsen’s cross narrowly wide. Ross Barkley also failed to hit the mark from inside the box in the 25th minute.

Jackson was brought down as he tried to get on the end of a George Hemmings cross, but Villa’s appeal for a penalty just before half-time was waved away. Referee Michael Oliver dismissed the appeal and VAR took no action.

Jackson picked out the Villa captain in front of goal but the striker missed a clear chance early in the second half.

Hull almost took all three points in the 65th minute when Mohamed Belloumi’s curling effort beat goalkeeper Zion Suzuki but hit the crossbar. Suzuki then produced a fine save to deny Mohamed-Ali Cho in the 89th minute to preserve Villa’s point.

Hull rise to second with seven points from their opening three games, while Villa remain in search of a first win this season.

Elsewhere, Nottingham Forest boss Oliver Glasner criticized VAR after his side were held to a 0-0 draw by Tottenham at the City Ground.

Forest thought they had gone ahead in the 67th minute when Neco Williams bundled the ball into the net after a scramble in the box. Craig Pawson had given the goal but VAR Peter Bankes intervened and ruled that Williams had handled the ball before scoring.

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“I don’t know if there was enough evidence to overrule the original decision of the referee,” Glasner said.

“I saw five or six different angles and to be fair, you can tell from one angle that the ball hit the arm because the shirt shifts a little bit, but it’s not clear if it’s the ball or [Sandro] Tonali on the goal line,” Glasner said.

“I think the VAR can’t intervene when he is guessing. It wasn’t clear.

“We had a briefing at the beginning of the season that the threshold for VAR intervention this year should be very high and that’s why this is a wrong intervention.

“If it’s not 100 percent clear, default to the call on the field. That is the inconsistency today.

“I told the referee after the game that I think that was a goal.

Williams was judged to have handled the ball immediately before scoring, and so the goal was ruled out, the Premier League’s official match center said.

Williams rejected the decision, insisting he had not touched the ball.

’It’s a goal,’ said the Forest full-back to Sky Sports.

“VAR is there when there is a clear error and for me that is not clear. I’ve seen the images and the replays and at no point did I think I handballed it. I cradled it in my arms.

“I knew immediately I’d headed it down between my arms. That one lost me. “Disappointing.