Aston Villa vs Fulham LIVE: Premier League result and reaction
Aston Villa 3-1 Fulham: Unai Emery’s Villa defeated the Cottagers to get back to winning ways
Aston Villa kept the pressure on the top four with a confident victory over Fulham in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon. Unai Emery’s men needed a response after losing to Nottingham Forest last time out and dominated from the start against the Cottagers.
The deadlock was broken through an Antonee Robinson own goal which was the result of constant pressure from Villa before John McGinn doubled the lead on the stroke of half-time.
When Ollie Watkins added a third four minutes after the hour mark, Villa had the game well in hand meaning a simple miss from Watkins later in the match didn’t cost them. Raul Jimenez pulled one back for Fulham who started to click with quarter of an hour to go but there wasn’t enough time left in the match for them to truly trouble Villa.
Relive all the action from Villa Park below:
Aston Villa vs Fulham
Willian cuts in from the left flank and puts Cash on the back foot, but his low curling shot from outside the area is easily fielded by Martinez, who drops down to complete the catch. That's surely that for the first half.
Aston Villa vs Fulham
Douglas Luiz sends a corner from the left towards Kamara on the edge of the area, although the Villa midfielder can't make useful contact, the ball then falls to Pau Torres, whose hurried shot is skewed well wide.
Aston Villa vs Fulham
In the first minute of first-half stoppage time, Jimenez turns and sends a 20-yard snapshot curling towards the target. It lacks enough pace or bend, though, and ends up as simple catching practice for Martinez.
Aston Villa vs Fulham
Revelling in his freedom to break forward, McGinn has now contributed to goals in each of his last four home games in the Premier League - two of his own and two assists. Villa have also scored 12 first-half goals in as many league matches, and only Manchester City (13) have netted more this season.
Aston Villa vs Fulham
The hosts are pressing hard for a second goal now, and Watkins claims for a foul deep in Fulham territory. After his appeals are ignored, McGinn is then felled by Jimenez around 30 yards from goal in a central position - that's a Villa free-kick.
Aston Villa vs Fulham
SAVE! A superb diagonal ball by Pau Torres finds Cash on the right. The Poland international drifts inside into a shooting position, just inside Fulham's box, but he is just off balance while striking the ball on his weaker foot and his effort flies straight at Leno, who deals with it comfortably.
Aston Villa vs Fulham
Covering across from left-back, Robinson does well to intercept a throughball from Douglas Luiz towards Diaby, and Fulham are holding firm.
Aston Villa vs Fulham
Villa are still in control here, but Fulham are taking the occasional opportunity to probe the home side's defence. The Cottagers' lack of first-half goals looks set to continue, though.
Aston Villa vs Fulham
A long ball over the top beats Villa's high line, and Pereira is almost clean through on goal; however, the ball skips up off the greasy turf and allows Konsa to make a last-gasp clearance. His foot was quite high there, but the officials take no action.
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