It’s never dull in Hull, as the saying goes in these parts, and after just three games the Premier League is proving to be quite some ride for Hull City supporters.
Having embarrassed Manchester United here on the opening day and won at Coventry last weekend, this deserved point and clean sheet will have reinforced Sergej Jakirovic’s belief that his men can beat the drop.
You have to go back to Bolton Wanderers’ excellent start to the 2001-02 campaign to find a newly-promoted side who began the season with three straight victories.
The Tigers failed to emulate Sam Allardyce’s team here but they came closest to a winner as the Algeria winger Mohamed Belloumi hit the crossbar with a stunning second-half shot before Mohamed-Ali Cho and Oli McBurnie went close late on.
For Aston Villa, though, it was a tepid display which saw them fail to score for the third match running with Hull looking the more likely winners.
Ambition pulsed loudly at a sold-out MKM Stadium before kick-off as a huge amber banner inscribed with the words “‘One family, one dream” was paraded on the pitch. It said much for the togetherness that Jakirovic has fashioned within his squad and the connection with the club’s supporters during a remarkable few months in the Tigers’ history.
They belted out a rousing rendition of their adopted club anthem, the Elvis Presley classic “Can’t Help Falling in Love”, as the match got under way.
Desire was visible and audible in the stands and on the pitch – and not least in the Hull technical area where Jakirovic, who signed a new two-year contract on Friday, watched proceedings unfold.
Villa failed to register a shot on target when losing to Brighton and Arsenal in their opening two defeats, but they should have led here inside the second minute when Nicolas Jackson headed Ian Maatsen’s teasing left-wing cross wastefully wide.
Hull were unfazed and Ryan Giles’s low delivery almost found Oli McBurnie before an exquisite piece of skill from Belloumi almost carved Villa apart. Collecting possession on the right flank, the winger beat Ross Barkley twice, including a delightful nutmeg, before breaking clear.
His low cross was cleared, but it hinted at the possibilities on offer for the hosts.
In the 13th minute, Villa finally fashioned an effort on target this season as Barkley found George Hemmings but his low shot was comfortably saved by Konstantinos Tzolakis.
If Villa could not see off a newly-promoted side widely tipped for an immediate relegation this season, could they really consider themselves ready to start climbing the table?
In the 25th minute, Villa went closer still through a low strike from Barkley, which drew a fine fingertip save from Tzolakis, as Hull came under increasing pressure.
Eight minutes before half-time, Belloumi tried his luck from 25 yards but his effort flew straight into Zion Suzuki’s midriff.
Moments later, Regan Slater also unleashed from 25 yards but the save was again comfortable for Suzuki while Villa had a penalty claim ignored on the stroke of half-time when Jackson went down under Nobel Mendy’s challenge.
A neat passing sequence should have harvested a Villa goal in the 50th minute but captain John McGinn could only lift the ball harmlessly over Tzolakis’s crossbar.
Three minutes later, Villa went even closer as Hemmings outstripped the Hull captain, Lewie Coyle, down the left flank and showed intelligence to pick out Emiliano Buendía with a neat cut-back. Buendía should have buried the chance but he blazed wildly over, much to his disgust.
In the 65th minute, Hull went agonisingly close to scoring when Belloumi collected possession from a short corner and curled a stunning left-foot shot against the bar.
Villa always gave the inescapable impression they could move through the gears when the opportunities presented themselves – but there was a resilience to the hosts. That collective desire which carried them to promotion last season will be needed over the next 35 games if they are to defy the odds and beat the drop.
It was evident again late on when Hull substitute Lucas Herrington – on his 19th birthday – produced a vital block to repel Tyrone Mings’s shot as Villa threatened a winner.
Cho’s close-range shot was repelled by Suzuki before McBurnie failed to properly connect with Giles’s cross as Villa held on.
