Aston Villa’s 1-0 defeat of Hull City Monday snapped a 12-game winless streak for the hosts and placed the visitors dangerously close to the drop zone.  While the duo shown above are a little light on details, the Independent’s Paul Walker provides insight regarding what can charitably be called poor team chemistry.

Not only did Phil Brown’s men extend their dramatic slide but their seemed capitulation depressingly manifested itself in infighting within the ranks as well. Daniel Cousin and Geovanni had to be separated to compound another miserable evening for Hull. Strangely, Brown said afterwards that he would not be speaking to either of his miscreants. He claimed not to have seen the incident he described as “a discussion” and even went as far to say “it shows how much they care”

Stiliyan Petrov’s 34 minute tackle on George Boateng led to the move upfield which saw Ashley Young deliver a typically inch-perfect centre for Carew to flick in from the edge of the six-yard box. There was a suspicion of offside; indeed, before he peeled off to celebrate, Carew turned to check for a flag.

Yet the goal stood, Hull heads dropped and as the players ran towards the tunnel for the interval so the frustration boiled over. Cousin and Geovanni had been no sort of double-act up front, but at least they came over all Laurel and Hardy when squaring up to each other, apparently blaming one another for another fine mess. It seemed that the Brazilian had paid for the ugly scene “ three members of the Hull staff had to intervene “ when he was replaced at half-time for Nicky Barmby, yet Brown revealed the change had nothing to with the “discussion”.