Aston Villa survive for another season - match analysis

Paul Lambert's team clawed their way out of trouble with Saturday's comfortable win over FA Cup final bound Hull City, the perfect visitors at the perfect moment for an uneasy Villa.

But no-one was fooled. Without significant change and, through that, improvement, Villa will be back in the same fix at the same time next season. And a club that flirts with jeopardy too frequently will eventually pay the price.

A few thousand of the faithful stayed behind for the 'lap of thanks' but it was an act of obligation more than genuine appreciation following another wretched season. Talk of a takeover and/or a managerial change is cheap but so far unsubstantiated and while Villa fans are left waiting on the promised clarity from distant owner Randy Lerner when the season is finished, the future that they crave is a mere fancy.

But the club deserves better than this and Lambert knows it. The toll this last 18 months have taken on the Villa manager is considerable – "You couldn't print some of the things that go through your head," he said going into this game – but if the way ahead is more of the same than he simply has to do better with the resources at his disposal.

Equally, his players have to prove with greater consistency that they are capable of more than the scratchy performance that is their medium line.

It's not been too easy at times to select a Man of the Match but Saturday's was no contest as Andreas Weimann stepped out of his general torpor to inspire the team when they needed it. But whether, after so many under-whelming displays this season, it was a performance that condemns or redeems him is open to debate.

Weimann scored the two goals just before half time, which left a lethargic Hull with too much to do in the face of full-bodied Villa commitment.

He cupped his hands to his ears in a celebration after the first as if to admonish his critics but he is kidding himself if he thinks those supporters have been harsh to vent their frustrations at him personally or the team.

With Christian Benteke long gone and Gabby Agbonlahor injured – and eventually forced off – by his effort in setting up his team's first-minute goal, Villa needed Weimann to step up to the plate and he duly delivered with his best performance of the season. But it was a rare highlight in a poor 12 months, which did not really grant him clearance to offer a metaphorical finger-wag to his audience.

And it was the audience who were the real stand-out feature of this important victory. Firstly in number, with 37,182 answering the call to arms, and then in the passion of their backing for such a deeply-flawed team. For all the talk of protests and rebellion, Villa Park thundered unequivocal support to help push the team over the safety line.

It was another vibrant reminder to Lambert and Lerner about the club's reach and potential but Villa fans are not a different breed – this summer's season-ticket sales will be hit significantly unless there are strong indicators that their match-day experience will change.

For now, a little of the old 'up and at 'em' did the trick in taking care of Hull. Steve Bruce was rightly raging at the clear, two-handed shove Agbonlahor used on Curtis Davies to bundle his old team-mate out of the way as he barged his way through to give Villa the perfect start.

It led to a chance put away by Ashley Westwood and which triggered an explosive reaction from The Holte.

But that endless flaw in Lambert's team, their inability to dominate games, was once more evident as Hull conjured their equaliser from a splendid act of deception at a set piece by Tom Huddlestone, who then brought the best out of Brad Guzan with a long-range drive.

But if this Villa team struggle to establish a rhythm in their football, there is no doubting their potential to hit hot streaks in a game when they look capable of discomforting defences with their pace and verve. Two Weimann headers, the first after some weak Hull defending and the second set up by a rare impression from Agbonlahor's replacement, Jordan Bowery, climaxed just such a spell as the interval neared.

Villa comfortably handled a vaguely-interested Hull thereafter and can now look forward to their summer break. Unless, of course, the words of Lerner are about to change the landscape dramatically. Many fans hope he will do precisely that.