Fulham boss Chris Coleman also failed to show with assistant Steve Kean admitting the former Welsh international was furious with the defensive lapses which let Villa back into the game.

"Chris is very angry. He knows the lads up front have worked their socks off but the defence have watched the balls into the box and he is not pleased about that," he said.

"It was not the worst we have defended this season, we have defended poorly a few times.

"We didn't deal with crosses. We can't say much about the guys up front because they are scoring goals.

"Now we have scored six goals in two games but have come away with just one point."

Mark Crossley, who passed a late fitness test on a hamstring injury before the game, should have stopped both of Ridgewell's strikes and Kean admitted the Welsh goalkeeper was struggling towards the end.

"Crossley was not fully fit. He tried it and put himself up and felt fatigued in last 10 minutes," he said.

"He is disappointed he didn't deal with the crosses. There were a lot coming in. It depends on how he reacts to treatment to see if he plays on Saturday."
(from the sportinglife)

Aston Villa assistant boss Roy Aitken toasted Liam Ridgewell after the England under-21 defender celebrated the birth of his first son with a two-goal salvo in tonight's thrilling 3-3 draw with Fulham.

Ridgewell scored two carbon copy goals at Craven Cottage, turning in crosses from James Milner both times to snatch a deserved point for Villa.

"It has been a big week for Liam because he has had a baby. His wife went into labour on Monday before the Everton game and she had a son the following day," said Aitken.

"The two goals tonight were a nice little present for his son. He would have had a hat-trick if he had not hit the post."

Villa trailed three times to a brace of goals from Brian McBride and a Heidar Helguson penalty, but Luke Moore and Ridgewell pegged back the deficit in a high-octane clash at Craven Cottage.

Controversy reigned over Helguson's penalty with referee Andy D'Urso deciding Mark Delaney's tackle on Tomasz Radzinski was not a penalty only to perform a U-turn when his assistant's flag went up.

A group of Villa players mobbed D'Urso in protest - Delaney appeared to win the ball - but the official pointed to the spot and Helguson tucked the penalty away.

"It was the wrong decision but we must stand by the referee.

"He initially didn't give it but allowed himself to be over-ruled by the linesman," he said.

"He saw what we saw which is the player making full contact on the ball. It was very good challenge from our defender."

Aitken, sent out to face the press by manager David O'Leary, felt his side deserved to win and was delighted by the performance.

"We are not angry, just frustrated. The manager asked me to come out and there is nothing suspicious in it, it happens from time to time," he said.

"It was a first class performance by us - full of passion, character and quality. We have scored seven goals in our last two games which is first class.

"To come to Fulham is difficult because they have a good home record at the moment.

"All credit to the lads - on the night we deserved to win.

"Defensively we could look more solid but overall it was a good performance."
(from the sportinglife)