Aston Villa 3 Hull 0: Gareth who? James Milner filling Barry's boots

Published: 07 Dec 2009 - 16:02:18

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Aston Villa 3 Hull 0: Gareth who? James Milner filling Barry's boots

Watch out Gareth Barry. James Milner has already done a brilliant job of filling the former Villa man's shoes in the centre of midfield - and at this rate he could easily steal his ex-colleague's England spot as well. That would be sweet for Villa manager Martin O'Neill - and the club's fans - after the drawnout Barry transfer saga in the summer. Barry's departure to Manchester City was supposed to leave a gaping hole in Villa's midfield. Not on this evidence, though. O'Neill deserves credit for moving Milner in-field. On target: Milner scores Villa's second during his man-of-the-match performance against Hull Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill backs 'phenomenal' James Milner for place in England's World Cup squadMore pain for Jimmy Bullard: Hull midfielder faces a month out with medial ligament damage Aston Villa 3 Hull City 0: Bullard injury another serious blow for TigersHull midfielder George Boateng insists Aston Villa can not afford another trophyless season Villa have three gifted natural wingers to accommodate in theirteam, now that Stewart Downing has recovered from injury, which led toMilner being shunted into a more unfamiliar central role for the pasttwo Villa matches. Against Hull, he gave a man-of-the- match display, having been giventhe freedom to drift from one flank to another, and looked a threatfrom all angles with his vision and passing accuracy. Defensively, he was solid and hassled opposition midfielders with his tenacious pressing. WORLD CUP WATCH England won't have been filled with confidence by Emile Heskey scuffing wide from close range early on. He won't have serious starting hopes if he continues this wasteful finishing. But James Milner has given Fabio Capello food for thought. Before, Capello might have viewed Milner as a potential impact player to bring on, but his thinking will surely have changed. Hull's striker Jozy Altidore is uncertain of his spot in the USA side and didn't help his cause. Milner has watched and learned from Barry - and the pupil could soon become the master. 'I have learned massively from watching Gareth,' Milner said.'You've got to learn all the time from the top players and Gareth was atop player. With England, there are Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrardand there aren't many better players in the world to learn from there. 'I've played in central midfield for Leeds once or twice and forNewcastle on occasions. If the manager decides to keep it that way thenI'm happy playing there. You can get involved in the game.' O'Neill added: 'His two performances in central midfield have beenphenomenal. The pass for Richard Dunne (who scored Villa's first) wasreally top drawer.' Centre back Dunne finished powerfully in the 13th minute after thatdefence-splitting Milner delivery and said: 'That's three goalsalready. It's a record for me, this season. I'm not far off being topscorer. Job Dunne: Aston Villa defender Richard Dunne opens the scoring at Villa Park 'We were playing well. We had missed a couple of chances. It was agreat ball by James and I just kept my head down and hit it as hard asI could.' Milner scored the second, a comical 29th-minute goal. Hull goalkeeper Matt Duke raced out to head the ball for a throw-in. But Steve Sidwell, who was warming up, caught it and threw it to Gabriel Agbonlahor, who took a quick throw to Milner. Enlarge With Duke charging back to his goal, Milner lobbed him. 'It was quick thinking from Siddy,' said Milner. 'With defenders running back too, my lob had to be just right. Luckily enough, it dropped into the net.' Villa completed a comfortable win late on when Duke brought down Luke Young, allowing John Carew to score from a penalty. Bad day: Hull manager Phil Brown looks dejected as Villa run riot It completed a miserable afternoon for Hull, who lost Jimmy Bullardand then were left ruing a Craig Fagan shot that hit a post in the 61stminute. Visiting manager Phil Brown saw the miss as pivotal in his team's first defeat in five games. 'That could have been the turning point,' he said. 'Had thatnestled in the top corner, we'd have been attacking the Holte End withnerves jangling. It didn't though and we didn't do much after that fora goal threat. 'Did we deserve anything? Probably not, and that's the disappointingthing with the standards we've created in the last three or fourgames.' He added: 'Blackburn will be back at the KC next weekend and it'sabout getting back to the business of playing how we had in the lastfew games.' ASTON VILLA (4-4-2): Friedel7; L Young 7, Dunne 7, Cuellar 6, Warnock 6; Downing 7, Milner 8,Petrov 6, A Young 7; Agbonlahor 6, Heskey 5 (Carew 78min). Booked: L Young, Cuellar, A Young, Petrov. HULL (4-5-1): Duke 6;McShane 5, Zayatte 4, Gardner 5, Dawson 6; Garcia 5, Boateng 6, Bullard6 (Fagan 18, 7), Marney 5 (Vennegoor of Hesselink 77), Hunt 6; Altidore6 (Barmby 54, 7). Booked: Duke, Fagan, Marney. Man of the match: James Milner Referee: Stuart Attwell Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill backs 'phenomenal' James Milner for place in England's World Cup squadMore pain for Jimmy Bullard: Hull midfielder faces a month out with medial ligament damage Aston Villa 3 Hull City 0: Bullard injury another serious blow for TigersHull midfielder George Boateng insists Aston Villa can not afford another trophyless season Explore more:People:Martin O'Neill, Stuart Attwell, Stewart Downing, John Carew, Steven Gerrard, Emile Heskey, Jimmy Bullard, James Milner, Fabio Capello, Luke Young, Phil Brown, Gareth Barry, Richard Dunne, Gabriel Agbonlahor, Frank LampardPlaces:Newcastle, Leeds, United Kingdom