Hull City suffered an unwanted European hangover at Villa Park as they went down to a 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa following a display which was far from what has come to be expected from the Tigers.
Villa always looked in control and were only really threatened by the Tigers in the last 20 minutes or so, by which time they had already fallen 2-0 behind following a first half when looking disorganised and lacking energy.
A 14th-minute goal from Gabriel Agbonlahor had put the home side in command, before Andreas Weimann deservedly doubled that just over 20 minutes later against a City side which struggled to deal with the pace of Villa's front men.
The Tigers did manage to get themselves a lifeline when Nikica Jelavic saw his header diverted into the net by Villa defender Aly Cissokho with 16 minutes left, but it was their only real significant effort of a match when Steve Bruce's side were second best for large periods.
Slow out of the blocks from the first whistle, City almost fell behind inside the first minute when Fabian Delph hit the angle of bar and post with the Tigers looking like they were still in the dressing room.
Having failed to get into the contest, it came as no surprise when City fell behind to Agbonlahor's low shot into the right corner after Jelavic failed to hold the ball up in attack to gift Villa possession.
With the pace of the striker causing City problems and Delph looking like he had acres of room, City were second best in every department and could not get into the home side's final third.
The only real chance City had in the opening half was Huddlestone's 35-yard free-kick, which was deflected low past the upright by Weimann, who had been causing all sorts of problems prior to this timely intervention.
With their appeals for a penalty turned down in the 33rd minute when the ball hit Ashley Westwood on the hand, it actually came as no surprise when Villa took a two-goal advantage three minutes later.
With Curtis Davies failing to clear his lines from a header in the build-up, Michael Dawson also misplaced a pass which allowed Villa to pick apart their defence with some neat interplay and Weimann took advantage to fire home despite Paul McShane and keeper Allan McGregor trying to throw their bodies in the way.
The half could have ended 3-0 or 4-0 if Agbonlahor had not seen his effort well saved by McGregor and Westwood also hit the woodwork from a long-range free-kick and City were glad to get to the break 2-0 down to re-organise.
With Liam Rosenior brought on for Davies at the start of the second period, City did finally get a foothold in the game when switching to a 4-4-2 formation but not before Keiran Richardson blasted well over the bar from a long way out.
It took the Tigers until just before the hour mark to register a sight of the Villa goal, with Huddlestone seeing a scuffed shot blocked by the Villa defence from the edge of the box.
It was his last real involvement before being replaced by Sone Aluko, who won the free-kick which led to City's goal in the 74th minute.
Having whipped the ball into the box, Jelavic's header at goal from ten yards caused havoc and the under-pressure Cissokho could only head into his own net.
The goal seemed to give City impetus and they went at Villa with far more purpose in the closing stages, resulting in Livermore's speculative 30-yarder being tipped over the bar by Brad Guzan, his first real save of any note.
Villa should have wrapped up all three points when Darren Bent was put through late in time added on, but his low shot drifted past the far post when more composure would have at least drawn a save from McGregor.
City had a half chance themselves in the closing stages as Aluko found space in the penalty area, but his volleyed effort on the turn was straight down the throat of Guzan.
