Fulham vs Aston Villa Report

Scorers: Jimenez 5’; Rogers 9’, Watkins 59’, Diop (OG) 69’

Red Card: Anderson 64’, Philogene 90+3’

Aston Villa Come From Behind to Defeat 10-Man Fulham 3-1 at Craven Cottage

Aston Villa continued their fine form with a 3-1 comeback victory over Fulham at Craven Cottage, marking their fifth consecutive head-to-head (H2H) win against the Cottagers. The victory keeps Unai Emery’s side within striking distance of the Premier League’s top four.

Jiménez’s Early Strike Cancelled Out by Rodgers

Aston Villa came into this match eager to stay in contention for a top-four spot, but it was Fulham who struck first. Raúl Jiménez latched onto a long goal-kick from Bernd Leno, rifling his shot past Emiliano Martínez to give the hosts an early 1-0 lead. However, Fulham’s advantage lasted only four minutes, as Villa responded quickly. Morgan Rodgers’ deflected effort caught Leno flat-footed, levelling the score at 1-1.

Jiménez had a chance to restore Fulham’s lead soon after, but the Mexican striker missed the target from close range.

Aston Villa nearly took the lead themselves when Ollie Watkins tried to chip Leno, but the German goalkeeper was up to the task, blocking the effort. Fulham had another golden opportunity when Matty Cash handled the ball in the Villa box, but Andreas Pereira’s penalty was saved by Martínez, ensuring the sides remained level.

Second Half: Villa Take Control and Watkins Shines

The second half saw fewer clear-cut chances initially, with both teams battling for control. However, as the game wore on, Aston Villa began to dominate possession. After a series of half-chances, Villa eventually took the lead. Youri Tielemans delivered a corner that found Ollie Watkins in the box. Watkins created space and fired his shot off the underside of the crossbar to score his fifth goal of the season, giving Villa a 2-1 lead.

Fulham’s situation worsened when Joachim Andersen was shown a red card for bringing down Watkins as the last defender. Aston Villa quickly capitalised on their numerical advantage, as Lucas Digne’s shot deflected off Issa Diop and into the Fulham net, sealing a 3-1 victory for the visitors.

Late Red Card and Villa’s March Up the Table

Although Jaden Philogene received a second yellow card late in the game, Villa had already done enough to secure all three points. The win temporarily lifts them to fourth place, just one point behind Premier League leaders Liverpool. Fulham, on the other hand, will be disappointed with their second-half performance and remain in ninth place on goal difference.

Conclusion: Villa’s Top Four Ambitions Strengthened

Aston Villa’s 3-1 comeback win against Fulham at Craven Cottage keeps their hopes of a top-four finish alive, as Ollie Watkins continues his fine goal-scoring form. Unai Emery’s side showed resilience after going behind early and capitalised on their chances, while Fulham will be left to rue their missed opportunities and second-half struggles.

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Fulham v Aston Villa, 2024/25 | Premier League