Just 57 seconds into the game, Aston Villa were ahead. Gabriel Agbonlahor accelerated down the left wing and pulled the ball back to Marc Albrighton from the byline. The winger stepped over the ball and left it for Ashley Westwood, who fired home his second goal of the season from the edge of the box.

Agbonlahor had a chance of his own 10 minutes later, but his shot cannoned off a Hull defender to deflect behind for a corner.

Agbonlahor was forced off in the 22nd minute, and just moments after his arrival on the pitch, Jordan Bowery diverted Liam Rosenior's cross into his own net to level things up.

Andreas Weimann of Aston Villa celebrates his goal with Aston Villa fans during the Barclays Premier League match between Aston Villa and Hull City at Villa Park on May 3, 2014 © Getty Images

Four minutes before half time, Nathan Baker was denied, but Weimann followed up to lash the ball home, and the Austrian forward netted again in first-half stoppage time to put breathing space between Villa and Hull.

In the 58th minute, Nikica Jelavic fluffed his lines after being teed up by Ahmed Elmohamady, while at the other end Bowery attempted to atone for his earlier error, but his rasping strike was tipped behind by Steve Harper at the near post.

Brad Guzan then smothered a powerful Tom Huddlestone strike and Alex Bruce squandered another chance for Hull when he misjudged the flight of the ball at the far post and missed his header.

The result means that Aston Villa climb above Hull into 14th place.