These days, Hull City is a club in serious trouble and decline. After last season’s shennanigans in which the team went from first half wonders to second half disasters while avoiding relegation, many fans had hoped that the club would act to prevent a similar scenario this year. That did not materialise and they stuck with Phil Brown as manager. It was a surprise to all that Brown lasted as long as he did – almost a full season, before the management decided to act by putting him on gardening leave. Yet their backup plan was hardly ideal as Iain Dowie was brought in to improve the team’s fortunes. Dowie has had previous experience in the English Premier League but most of it was spent grappling with reality as he failed to prove his credentials as a top manager. So his fortune, as well as the club’s, continued with hardly any upturn in their results while sinking deeper into trouble at the wrong end of the league.

Aston Villa’s season has been a bittersweet one. From the highs of reaching the Carling Cup final, to the lows of losing in that and the FA Cup on the back of contentious decisions from match officials. Sandwiched in between was the “worst day of my life” for coach Martin O’Neill as he presided over a 7-1 bashing by Chelsea, a defeat which led to much incrimination from fans and a rumoured walk out by the Northern Irishman on the club. Those were all refuted eventually but it might be a long summer coming for the club that harbours great ambitions but lacks the financial muscle to back it up, as O’Neill has refused to publicly commit his future to the team. Credit must be given to the players for continuing to play on amidst all the chaos that speculation has generated. The manager has also worked hard to ensure the team remains on track to return to Europe next season and all signs are pointing to that eventual outcome.

The balance of power is heavily skewed towards Villa as they make the trip to Hull. Even though they continue to be dogged by negative vibes from their fans and unrealistically high expectations, the Midlands club are nothing if not a solid, organised team. The home team will struggle to create any erstwhile chances while spending most of their time on the back foot, hoping not to concede something from which they might be incapable of coming back from. Iain Dowie has also proven to lack the sufficient chops to pull the club out of quicksand and it would hardly be a surprise if O’Neills finds his team sitting on a comfortable lead by the half time whistle during the Hull vs Aston Villa live stream English Premier League match. That would lead to a more subdued second half from the visitors as they basically camp on their advantage to continue their assault on the European qualifying spots.