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Results Based News

Villa down lowly Tigers

Author: Sir David Smith
Date: 05/05/2009

Hull City's hopes of upsetting the betting odds and escaping relegation from the Premier League were hit by a 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa, with John Carew scoring the only goal of the game.

The Tigers suffered an early setback at Villa Park when they lost skipper Ian Ashbee to a leg injury following a challenge with Gareth Barry.

As usual, Villa played with plenty of flair and imagination but the cutting edge was still missing in another frustrating home performance.

The nearest to a goal in the early play occurred when Carew's header from a Stiliyan Petrov cross went just wide of the post.

An interested spectator was the England coach, Fabio Capello, who was no doubt running the rule over PFA Young Player of the Year, Ashley Young.

But the youngster had a quiet time in the first half as the service to the winger was a trifle patchy.

Villa's biggest goal threat up to that point was a James Milner free-kick which was flipped over the bar by former Villa goalkeeper, Boaz Myhill.

But a swiftly executed move originated by Barry ended with an astute cross from Ashley Young which was clinically finished by Carew from close range - his 14th strike of the season.

Hull's defence came under increasing pressure and they were often indebted to the tenacity of Kamil Zayatte in keeping out the likes of Gabby Agbonlahor.

Up front Geovanni was unable to make an impression for the Tigers as he went through an ineffective spell and was substituted at the break, following an apparent confrontation with Daniel Cousin as he left the field at half-time.

Myhill, who kept out a good effort from Agbonlahor at the end of the first half, distinguished himself two minutes into the second period with another impressive save from Barry.

The Hull goalkeeper continued in top form as he dived to keep out a Milner blockbuster as the game stagnated when the pace slackened for a spell midway through the half.

His best save came in the 78th minute when he somehow managed to flick Agbonlahor's point-blank header over the bar.

In the Conference National play-off semi-finals, Cambridge United and Torquay United secured final berths.

The U's won 3-0 after extra-time to edge out Stevenage Borough 4-3 on aggregate, while the Gulls lost 1-0 at Histon but progressed 2-1 on aggregate.

John Higgins powered to his third World Snooker Championship title as he beat Shaun Murphy 18-9 at The Crucible in Sheffield.

The Scot had previously won the crown in 1998 and 2007.

At cricket's IPL, the Chennai Super Kings thrashed the Deccan Chargers by 78 runs in east London to go top of the qualifying table.

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