Aston Villa 3 Hull City 1 - match report and pictures

The Austrian scored twice at the end of the first half to end a six-game winless run.

Jordan Bowery's own goal had cancelled out Ashley Westwood's first-minute opener.

Villa now head to Manchester City and Tottenham in the final week with their top flight future assured.

Ciaran Clark and Matt Lowton replaced Leandro Bacuna and Karim El Ahmadi after last weekend's 4-1 demolition at Swansea

And after just 57 seconds Villa took the lead – although Hull were left raging – with a perfect start.

Gabby Agbonlahor burst down the right and barged past Curtis Davies – with Hull claiming a push – and crossed for Westwood to fire into the corner from 18-yards after Marc Albrighton missed his kick.

Hull lacked early cohesion but Villa were hit when Gabby Agbonlahor limped off after 23 minutes and was replaced by Bowery.

It added to the Tigers' resolve as they began to assert their authority and they on 28 minutes with another controversial goal.

Liam Rosenior looked offside when he collected Tom Huddlesstone's quick free kick but Villa stood still and his low cross was turned into his own net by the luckless Bowery.

The confidence evaporated at Villa Park as nerves began to creep in and Guzan was at full stretch to turn Huddlestone's drive wide.

Steve Harper then denied Weimann at the other end after Hull played themselves into trouble before tipping Bowery's header over

But Villa did regain the lead five minutes before the break after a goalmouth scramble.

Nathan Baker's first header was cleared off the line before his follow-up hit the bar and it fell kindly for Weimann to nod in from four yards.

Four minutes later it was 3-1 when Bowery was afforded time on the right and his cross was delightfully headed in by Weimann from eight yards.

It lifted Villa and Harper thwarted Bowery at his near post immediately after the re-start as the hosts chased a fourth.

The pair continued their duel as the keeper turned over the substitute's fierce drive soon after with Villa comfortable.

Nikica Jelavic saw two shots blocked but lax Hull rarely looked capable of mounting a recovery as they went through the motions ahead of this month's FA Cup against Arsenal.

Bowery shot over with 12 minutes left in a non-event of a second half as Villa survived.