| Premiership - Saturday February 08, 2003 |
| Fulham |
(2) 2-1 (1) |
Aston villa |
Fulham Manager Jean Tigana’s situation at Fulham, which has given rise to speculation of a summer departure and a possible return to management in London for former Republic of Ireland boss Mick McCarthy, might be improved by more displays from his team like this.
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Fulham Manager Jean Tigana ducked the press conference after his side's morale boasting win over Aston Villa |
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Behind within three minutes, Fulham found a commitment which had been sorely lacking of late and, inspired by some Luis Boa Morte magic on the left, ended Aston Villa’s recent resurgence. Jon Harley scored his first goal following his £3.5m transfer from Chelsea and it proved the difference, an instinctive lash with the outside of his left boot which was either an outrageous stroke of good fortune or one of the goals of the season.
Harley was happy, whatever the truth, and so was all of Fulham. “It was a great goal by Jon and the team played fantastic against a good side,” said Tigana’s assistant, Christian Damiano. “The win was important. It puts us in a stronger position now and will help our confidence. We can finish in the top 10 — I believe this. We should all believe this.”
Belief was more prevalent among the players wearing claret and blue when the match began. Their assurance was reflected most transparently in midfielder Gareth Barry, who was confident enough to be sufficiently forward to profit from Stefan Moore’s flick and Dion Dublin’s pass, which left him able to manoeuvre his way round Steve Finnan and slot his low, close-range shot past Maik Taylor.
“It was a very good start and we carried that on, Dion Dublin having a chance cleared off the line by Luis Boa Morte, who really did have a special day,” reflected Villa manager Graham Taylor.
Boa Morte changed this game. The Portuguese forward made life hell for 20-year-old Rob Edwards, drafted in to replace Mark Delaney, who underwent an operation on his injured knee last week.
Edwards’s discomfort began in earnest when Boa Morte skipped past him into the box in the 14th minute, before Joey Gudjonsson came steaming in and brought down the thorn in Villa’s right side. Steve Dunn pointed to the spot and Steed Malbranque’s nonchalant conversion of the penalty meant Fulham were back in the fight.
Boa Morte continued to exploit Edwards’s unease and his cross to the far post should have brought the home side a second goal in the 26th minute when Louis Saha had a point-blank header cleared off the line.
But it came soon enough, Harley unleashing his powerful strike from 35 yards. Villa peaked too early and Fulham are peeking again in a less demoralising direction.
Fulham: Taylor, Finnan, Melville, Goma, Harley, Malbranque, Djetou, Davis, Boa Morte (Goldbaek 83min), Saha (Sava 88min), Marlet (Knight 71min)
Aston Villa: Enckelman, Edwards (Hendrie h-t), Mellberg, Johnsen, Samuel, Hitzlsperger (Crouch 67min), Gudjonsson, Barry, Moore (de la Cruz h-t), Dublin, Vassell
Scoreres:
Fulham: Malbranque 14 pen, Harley 36
Aston Villa: Barry 3
Referee: S Dunn
Attendance: 17,092