Villa 3 Hull 0 - analysis

James Milner might not possess the silky smooth subtleties which helped make Barry not only Villa's main man for so long but also an integral part of Fabio Capello's England team.

But if you're looking for a midfielder built for the 21st century, look no further.

The £12m club record signing combines the engine of a marathon runner, power of a welterweight boxer and the sort of feet the judges on Celebrity Come Dancing would be proud of.

And that's before you even mention his remarkable work ethic, incredible versatility and capacity for goals.

No wonder Martin O'Neill and Capello love him. And, at £12m, he is beginning to look a snip.

The way Milner has adapted to his new central midfield role since the fit-again Stewart Downing was introduced to the side is nothing short of remarkable.

OK, so the opposition might only have been Portsmouth and Hull.

But that should take nothing away from Milner and the ease with which he has slotted into the centre alongside Stiliyan Petrov.

O'Neill says he is "two or three notches" above where he was when he first arrived and he is absolutely right.

It has left two established Premier League central midfielders in Nigel Reo-Coker and Steve Sidwell sat on the sidelines.

But the truth is Milner combines both their best qualities – the muscle and resolve of Reo-Coker and tigerish work rate and attacking threat of Sidwell – while bringing yet more.

Furthermore, the creative spark that has been missing through the middle since Barry departed for Manchester City in the summer is back.

Villa's first goal on Saturday, when he picked out Richard Dunne, was the proof.

And Saturday's sumptuous strike – a brilliantly-executed lob sure to be in the running for goal of the month – had the glossy hallmark of Barry written all over it.

That made it two in two from the middle and five for the season for Milner.

And he now looks the obvious candidate to be the 10-plus goals a season man Villa are crying out for if their Champions League assault is to have a happy ending.

Certainly, they are currently well-placed for a top four finish, making up ground on both Tottenham and Liverpool this weekend.

In fifth, they are just two points adrift of third-placed Arsenal in what now looks a five-horse race between the Gunners, Spurs, Manchester City, Liverpool and Villa for third and fourth spots.

This month promises to go a long way to dictating their fate with three of the big four lying in wait in December – starting with Manchester United next week before games with Arsenal and Liverpool over the Christmas period.

Hull, then, were a mere starter before the main course and such was Villa's dominance against Phil Brown's team they should have been ahead within the opening minute.

The ease with which Luke Young breached the home defence after playing a neat one-two with Emile Heskey was a precursor for what was to follow.

Disappointingly, the Villa right-back pulled his shot wide of the post with just Tigers keeper Matt Duke to beat and his profligacy was matched by Emile Heskey in the eighth minute when Ashley Young threaded through the striker only for the England man to drag his shot wide.

But five minutes later it was left to centre-back Dunne, of all people, to give the rest of his team-mates a lesson in the art of finishing.

Again Hull's defending was nothing short of embarrassing as Villa were allowed to stroke the ball around from a short corner.

Eventually, the ball was squared to Milner on the edge of the area, he spotted Dunne left unmarked in acres of space inside the area and the Irishman did the rest, crashing in a shot off the crossbar.

The Tigers were already in turmoil and, just when you thought it couldn't get any worse for them, it did.

Jimmy Bullard's influence in reviving their fortunes of late was recognised by the Premier League Player of the Month award for November being bestowed upon the Hull midfielder.

So the sight of the injury-cursed midfielder close to tears as he hobbled off with yet another knee/leg problem after falling awkwardly in a challenge with Milner could not have been worse. No further fillip had been required for O'Neill's men but this latest setback effectively ended any hope Hull had. A second Villa goal was inevitable and it arrived after 29 minutes with a goal as brilliant as it was bizarre.

City keeper Matt Duke appeared to have dealt with the danger when he charged off his line to head the ball into touch.

Unfortunately for him, it went straight into the arms of Villa sub Steve Sidwell who was warming up on the touchline.

He immediately tossed the ball to Gabby Agbonlahor, his throw-in found Milner and he struck a sublime lob over the stranded Duke into the unguarded goal.

Now it was a case of how many.

There was almost a second goal in a week for Stewart Downing in what was his first appearance at Villa Park – the winger collecting a Stiliyan Petrov lay-off on 42 before letting fly with a drive which flashed just beyond the bar.

Downing demonstrated another key facet of his game in first-half injury-time when he delivered a dangerous cross which Kamil Zayatte – who gifted Villa a last-gasp winner with an own goal at the KC Stadium in January – headed just over his own bar.

Villa lacked the same penetration and potency in the second period but the only time Brad Friedel's goal looked in danger was a 25-yard thunderbolt from Craig Fagan which ricocheted off the upright.

There was more aggravation than action with a further five cautions to add to the two from the opening 45 minutes.

The Holte End's wish was granted on 78 when Carew was unleashed on the Tigers' toothless defence.

And it took the towering forward just 10 minutes to make his mark – firing home from the spot after Duke rushed off his line and clumsily caught Ashley Young.

By Brendan McLoughlin.