A goal apiece from Gabriel Agbonlahor and Andreas Weimann has handed Aston Villa a 2-0 half-time advantage in their home clash with Hull City this afternoon.
Hosting Villa started much the brighter of the two sides and they went close to taking the lead in just the second minute.
Weimann found Fabian Delph inside the area, but the midfielder, who was recently named in Roy Hodgson's England squad, could only strike the post from close range.
Weimann continued to cause problems for the away side during the opening exchanges and it was the Austrian that played a key role in Villa's opener with 14 minutes played.
His low pass was weighted into the path of Agbonlahor, who had enough space to steer his effort beyond the reach of Allan McGregor in the Hull net.
The home side continued to create openings as the half progressed and they made it 2-0 in the 36th minute.
Agbonlahor played in Kieran Richardson and the former Manchester United winger picked out Weimann to drill a shot past McGregor from close range.
In the final moments of the half, Agbonlahor again tried his luck, but on this occasion McGregor was equal to his shot.
Villa midfielder Ashley Westwood also curled an effort against the post as Hull were lucky to head into break only two goals behind.