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Steve Bruce is unquestionably one of football's nice guys - and it was so good to see the smile back on his face tonight.

It's unfortunate for Hull City that their luck wasn't in. This game could so easily have gone the other way until it turned for Villa late on. But the Tigers have only themselves to blame for some poor defending.

And, after the year Bruce has endured on the personal front and the summer he has had to experience after play-off final despair in May, few would begrudge the former Hull City boss this result.

A good night for a good man at the KCOM Stadium. Goodnight.

More from Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce on Jack Grealish's future...

"He's a natural talent. He's matured, which is the big thing. This time last year, he damaged a kidney and was out for months. That was the change in Jack.

"He's a wonderful talent and we'll do our best to keep hold of him, but obviously it's going to be difficult. It's going to be a fraught two or three days."

Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce told Sky Sports: "The players have just got on with the job. It's been a difficult period for everybody. People have lost their jobs and there have been cuts here, there and everywhere.

"What's happened in the past couple of weeks has been fantastic for the club.

"We're delighted to have won but there's still a lot of work to be done."

Jack Grealish's early departure, and the reception he got, all adds up to the option that this was his last game for the club - if Tottenham get their reported target before Thursday's Premier League deadline.

Villa's new owners would appreciate the immediate financial windfall, even if they would not be able to find any more than just a loan replacement before January.

But just how much would they miss him?

They proved tonight that they have other attacking outlets, even if expecting goals every week from the likes of Alan Hutton and Ahmed Elmohamady would clearly be expecting a lot.

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Tom McNamee: Cannot stop watching Alan Messi’s goal - to think 2-3 years ago, he would have left and I’d have not noticed!!

Quite a turnaround for Alan Hutton, isn't it?!

Aston Villa full-back Alan Hutton told Sky Sports: "It was massive. Everyone knows what's gone on in the past few weeks, so to come here and show the character we did to come back will stand us in good stead."

Winger Ahmed Elmohamady: "It's good for the club, the fans and the players to have stability. We know Hull is a tough place to come to and we did very well. The performance, especially in the second half, was very good."

Image source, Rex Features

What a statement from Villa!

So many questions, so many doubters.

But, in their first game of a new season after such an initially troubled summer, on his return to one of his old clubs, Steve Bruce's men have done all that could be asked of them on their first test - and the new owners will be thrilled!

Will Keane comes on for Hull scorer Evandro.

Last throw of the dice for the Tigers. But this game now looks lost.

Jack Grealish goes off - three days before the Premier League transfer deadline. He gets a great reception from the fans. Do they know something?

He is replaced by Icelander Birkir Bjarnason, to follow the removal of Jonathan Kodjia, who is substituted for youngster Rushian Hepburn-Murphy.

Tottenham target Grealish gets a parting chorus of "He's one of our own" as he salutes the Villa fans.

A ruck of changes as Hull bring on Nouha Dicko and new signing Manuel Milinkovic for Fraizer Campbell and Chelsea loan man Todd Kane.

Meanwhile, Villa bring on Andre Green for Albert Adomah.

Penalty shout for Villa rightly goes Hull's way as Albert Adomah is adjudged to have gone to ground easily, but Jonathan Kodjia then gets taken out on the edge of the box.

Conor Hourihane's left-foot free-kick just clips the top of the bar.

It's actually Hull who have started to step it up again. Todd Kane was denied simultaneously by Jed Steer and the linesman's flag, but it got the home fans excited! And Hull are lifted.

Conor Hourihane has a shot blocked as Villa threaten again. Are the visitors about to get a grip of this game?

Steve Bruce's Villa get forward on the break chasing a long ball from Jack Grealish but Jonathan Kodjia does not have much support. And Hull clear their lines.

But Villa then look a little more threatening on their next raid - and the ever faithful horde of travelling fans make themselves truly heard.

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Quiet start to the second period until Hull's Jarrod Bowen brings the game back to life with a deflected shot just wide after a well-worked one-two.

We're back underway at the KCOM.

Do you know who scored with his first touch in senior football on Saturday?

Did you miss how League One side Shrewsbury Town made history?

Catch up with the best bits of the weekend's EFL action in this piece by Ian Woodcock.

Image source, Rex Features

We've only had one weekend of the EFL season and already we've had a managerial departure.

Gary Bowyer has stepped down as manager of League One side Blackpool today.

The 47-year-old led the Seasiders to promotion from League Two in 2016-17 and achieved a top-half finish on their return to the third tier last term.

Blackpool opened their campaign with a 0-0 draw at Wycombe on Saturday.

Read more here.