Hull City's impressive start to the Premier League season continued as they secured a goalless draw at home to Aston Villa, a result that lifts Sergej Jakirovic's side to second in the table while leaving Unai Emery's Villa still searching for their first goal and first win of the campaign.
The point takes Hull to seven points from three matches, sitting just behind leaders Manchester City, while Villa remain deep in the relegation zone with only one point on the board and a goal difference of minus five.
The first half offered few clear-cut opportunities, though Villa looked the more threatening side early on. Emi Buendía had a golden chance inside the opening two minutes but could not convert, while Ross Barkley later tested goalkeeper Tzolakis with a decent effort. At the other end, Hull's best moment came when a Mohamed Belloumi delivery was wasted, and there were also appeals for a Villa penalty when Mendy appeared to nudge Jackson out of the way of a Maatsen cross. Referee Michael Oliver waved away the claims, and the sides went in level at the break.
Hull made a triple change shortly into the second half, bringing on new signings Sorba Thomas and Brooke Norton-Cuffy along with Lucas Herrington, who came on to celebrate his 19th birthday on the pitch. The hosts continued to look solid defensively, protecting what would become their third clean sheet in a row.
Villa's best chance of the match arrived just after the hour when George Hemmings surged down the left, beat his marker and squared for Buendía. The Argentine, with the goal at his mercy from eight yards, could only lift his effort over the crossbar in a costly miss.
Hull responded with the moment of the match on 66 minutes when Mohamed Belloumi won and then took a corner himself, curling a left-footed effort that beat goalkeeper Suzuki only to cannon back off the crossbar. It was the closest either side came to breaking the deadlock all afternoon.
Emery turned to his bench on 76 minutes, introducing Alejandro Garnacho, Matteo Ruggeri and Alysson in place of Hemmings, Maatsen and a visibly frustrated Buendía, who trudged off with 15 minutes remaining. The changes failed to spark Villa into life, and if anything the visitors looked less threatening in the closing stages. New £47m signing Ibrahim Mbaye was an unused substitute, denied a debut.
There were tense scenes with 15 minutes left when Emery grew frustrated with his own backroom staff after substitutes Tammy Abraham and Aaron Wan-Bissaka were not ready to come on despite the ball being out of play. Both eventually replaced Jackson and Cash.
Hull almost snatched a late winner when Oli McBurnie was picked out by a Giles cross in the box but could not get the connection required on his effort, sending it wide with the goal gaping. Moments later Villa were forced into a defensive scramble as Barkley dallied dangerously in his own box.
At the final whistle, the home crowd rose to applaud a gutsy defensive display that has now yielded seven points and a clean sheet in three of Hull's opening matches. For Villa, the wait for a first goal of the season goes on, with confidence draining as they remain second from bottom of the table.
Based on reporting from Guardian Football.