Stan Collymore celebrated his recall to Villa's starting line-up with a goal in each half as the Premiership leaders proved too strong for the Football League's bottom club.

BBC Radio 5 Live's John Rawling reports from Villa Park

The £7m striker was included for the FA Cup third round tie after Dion Dublin was ruled out with a groin injury.

Third Division Hull gamely held out until the final moments of the first half when Collymore scored from close range but The Tigers were, in general, more like pussycats.

Collymore's confidence soared and he set up the second for Julian Joachim before rounding things off with his second in the 67th minute.

Early yellow card

The game began with a booking for Hull defender Gregor Rioch, who brought down Steve Watson with only seven seconds gone.

Goalkeeper Steve Wilson had to race from his area to clear from Joachim but he could do nothing about Lee Hendrie's fifth minute shot from 20 yards which flew inches wide.

Hull had the backing of 7,000 travelling fans and they had something to cheer after 11 minutes when Warren Joyce picked out Ben Morley, who headed back across goal but Villa defender Ugo Ehiogu was well placed to clear.

Julian Joachim battles to win the ball from the Hull defence

Hendrie fired into the side-netting and Collymore was only just too high with a drive from the edge of the box, but he made no mistake as the half moved into injury time.

Watson's ball into the box was helped on by Hendrie and the £7m striker chested it down before slotting home.

Collymore turns provider

Hull were still trying to work out a way to get back into the game when Collymore created a 51st minute opening for Joachim with a well-directed chip and he nodded home

The visitors had their best opportunity within two minutes but Michael Oakes produced a reflex save to keep out a point-blank header from Craig Faulconbridge.

Villa had things pretty much their own way from then on with Joachim and Ehiogu squandering chances before Collymore picked his spot to fire past Wilson following a right-wing cross.

The visitors kept their heads up, however, to keep the scoreline respectable but Wilson had to save bravely from Riccardo Scimeca after he broke clear.

Aston Villa: Oakes, Wright, Southgate, Ehiogu, Watson, Draper, Collymore, Joachim, Barry, Hendrie, Scimeca. Subs: Charles, Grayson, Vassell, Lescott, Rachel.

Hull: Wilson, Greaves, Rioch, Whittle, Hocking, Edwards, Joyce, D'Auria, Brown, Faulconbridge, Morley. Subs: Peacock, McGinty, Hawes, Ellington, Bolder.