|
|
The Guardian
|
Aston Villa (0) 1 Fulham (0) 0
The Aston Villa manager Alex McLeish praised Andreas Weimann after he silenced a disaffected home crowd with a last-minute winner against Fulham.
McLeish was greeted with boos and cries of "you don't know what you're doing" when he took off Charles N'Zogbia and replaced him with Weimann in the 73rd minute.
But with seconds remaining, McLeish had the last laugh as Weimann earned Villa their first home win for four months after fellow substitute Gary Gardner's shot had been parried by Mark Schwarzer.
McLeish said: "The fans were great.
They see a forward coming off and Charles has been in good form, no doubt about it, but I did want to get Weimann on to the pitch at some stage.
I'll take it [the boos] on the chin.
You don't want to be hearing it, but it is part of the game.
The fans were excellent, but I thought we gave the fans something to be excellent about because of the way we played.
"
Villa have been struggling without the injured Darren Bent and Weimann, an Austria Under-21 international, has been pushing for a first-team spot after some prolific form for the reserves.
McLeish said: "Sometimes the subs work for you.
Weimann was a certainty to come on.
I discussed that with the coaches beforehand and said somehow we've got to work this boy into the team if it's 0-0 or we are a goal down because he is a goalscorer.
''
There were few chances in the first half but after the break both sides hit the woodwork.
First Marc Albrighton's rising drive hit the bar after he was found in space by Alan Hutton, then it was Fulham's turn after 71 minutes when Damien Duff was played clear in the box by John Arne Riise and his powerful shot struck the outside of a post.
Fulham's late defeat brought to an end a run of three consecutive victories.
Martin Jol said: "It was a real kick in the teeth and harsh to concede in the final minute.
I don't blame anyone for the goal, but I feel in the last minute you have to keep the opposition in front of you.
We didn't do that for the goal.
We were the better team in the second half.
''
The Fulham manager took the decision to replace captain Danny Murphy at half-time after he received a cut to his face in an aerial challenge with Stephen Ireland.
Jol said: "Danny had a cut to his face and they had to stitch it so I put someone else on instead of waiting for the doctor's decision.
"
Aston Villa Given, Hutton, Cuellar, Collins, Warnock, Albrighton, Herd (Bannan 82), Petrov (Gardner 90), N'Zogbia (Weimann 71), Ireland, Agbonlahor.
Subs Not Used: Guzan, Heskey, Lichaj, Baker.
Booked: Petrov, Herd.
Goals: Weimann 90.
Fulham Schwarzer, Kelly, Senderos, Hangeland, John Arne Riise, Duff, Dembele, Murphy (Diarra 46), Dempsey, Pogrebnyak, Johnson (Ruiz 67).
Subs Not Used: Stockdale, Baird, Orlando Sa, Etuhu, Davies.
Att: 32, 372
Ref: Jon Moss (W Yorkshire).
Source .