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Express and Star |
Aston Villa (0) 1-0 (0) Fulham
Villa won back-to-back games for the first time since May 2015 as Jonathan Kodjia’s spectacular late strike secured victory over Fulham.
The striker celebrated his 27th birthday in style by netting his third goal in as many games when he volleyed home Albert Adomah's cross with just ten minutes to go, lighting up an otherwise tepid match at Villa Park.
Jordan Ayew missed a late chance to make it two as Villa made it seven points from their last three games.
Fulham, unbeaten on their travels, rarely threatened with a Sone Aluko shot their only effort on target.
The visitors had looked content to take a point and for much of the afternoon looked set to claim it before Kodjia pounced on an error by keeper David Button with devastating effect.
Victory continued a dream start for new Villa boss Steve Bruce whose team climbed to 16th in the table and built momentum heading into next Sunday’s derby with Blues.
Bruce made two changes from the team which won 2-1 at Reading on Tuesday night, with Jordan Amavi and Jordan Ayew replacing Aly Cissokho and Adomah, who was only fit enough to make the bench with an ankle injury.
Fulham had conceded 13 goals in their previous five games and boss Slavisa Jokanovic’s desire for his team to improve that record was evident during an opening half when they seemed content to defend and do little else.
The onus was on Villa to break them down yet they rarely looked like doing so, a Kodjia attempt which Button pushed round the post the only real drama of a horribly flat opening period.
The second half saw brought a minor improvement. Villa got a let-off within 90 seconds of the restart when Stefan Johansen’s corner flashed across the face of goal.
Button was forced to tip over an Ayew free-kick but again the hosts rather huffed and puffed.
The spectacular nature of Kodjia’s goal was therefore totally out of keeping with the rest of the game.
Fulham had almost a come a cropper on a couple of occasion when attempting to pass the ball out from the back and it proved their downfall as Adomah pounced on a loose ball from Button. The winger had the option of trying to chip the keeper but instead crossed for Kodjia who acrobatically volleyed home into the bottom corner.
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