Match Report
Fulham (0) 2-0 (0) Aston Villa
Championship Match Day 32 1718 Craven Cottage
Saturday 17th February KO: 15:00pm
Referee:
Tony Harrington (Cleveland)
|
Fulham put an end to Aston Villa's winning run - and boosted their own chances of a push for automatic Sky Bet Championship promotion - with a 2-0 win at Craven Cottage.
Second-half goals from Ryan Sessegnon and Floyd Ayite proved to be the difference, with the west London side pulling themselves within four points of their opponents.
Villa manager Steve Bruce was forced to make two changes, with Albert Adomah and Jack Grealish missing. Birkir Bjarnason and Axel Tuanzebe took their places.
Matt Targett, who scored his first professional goal against Bolton last week, had the first opportunity after just two minutes for the hosts, when he flashed his effort wide of the the left-hand post of Villa goalkeeper Sam Johnstone.
Aleksandar Mitrovic headed wide two minutes later for Fulham, who started the game with a clear attacking intent.
The visitors earned their first effort of the game after eight minutes, when after good work by Bjarnason, Scott Hogan fired wide from just outside the edge of the box.
The Iceland international almost turned goalscorer himself after 15 minutes, as he was able to make his way into the box and shoot off-target.
The game settled down into a holding pattern, with neither side making a serious threat on the opposition goal.
Bruce made a change for the visitors just before the restart, with Josh Onomah replacing Ahmed Elmohamady.
| Match Stats |
Fulham |
Aston Villa |
| Goals |
(0) 2 |
0 (0) |
|
| Scorers |
R Sessegnon 52 |
|
|
Ayite 71 |
|
| , |
| Goal attempts |
14 |
7 |
| On target |
7 |
2 |
| Shooting Accuracy |
50% |
29% |
| Possession |
63% |
37% |
| Passes |
603 |
351 |
| Pass Success |
83% |
69% |
| Crosses |
14 |
10 |
| Crosses Success |
36% |
10% |
| Corners |
1 |
0 |
| Tackles |
18 |
20 |
| Tackles Success |
61% |
60% |
| Saves |
2 |
5 |
| Fouls |
7 |
11 |
| Offsides |
3 |
3 |
| Yellows |
1 |
1 |
| Reds |
0 |
0 |
| source: SkySports |
Hogan tested goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli four minutes after the restart, when his looping header was collected after it broke loose during a scramble in the box.
The deadlock was finally broken in the 51st minute by the home side. Ryan Fredericks was able to find space down the right-hand flank and squared into the box for Sessegnon - who calmly connected first time to drill past the outstretched Johnstone.
Villa made their second substitution of the afternoon on 66 minutes, when Mile Jedinak made way for Lewis Grabban.
However, an eighth straight victory looked out of reach for them after 71 minutes when Fulham doubled their lead - albeit with an awful mistake.
Johnstone was guilty of an appalling kick out which fell straight to Ayite just inside his own half, and he was able to direct his shot straight into an empty net.
Aboubakar Kamara replaced Mitrovic, while goalscorer Ayite was substituted for Lucas Piazon.
Keinan Davis came on for Robert Snodgrass late on, although the visitors left London without any points.
Fulham: Bettinelli, Fredericks, Kalas, Ream, Targett, Cairney, McDonald, Johansen (Odoi 90), Ayité (Piazon 88), Mitrovic (Kamara 79), R Sessegnon
Unused substitutes: Button, Christie, Kebano, Norwood
Goals:
Sessegnon 52 (right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Ryan Fredericks.)
Ayite 71 (right footed shot from more than 35 yards to the centre of the goal.)
Booked: Johansen (67,f),
Aston Villa: Johnstone, Tuanzebe, Chester, Terry, Hutton, Jedinak (Grabban 67), Ahmed El Mohamady (Onomah 45), Hourihane, Bjarnason, Snodgrass (Davis 88), Hogan
Unused substitutes: Bunn, Taylor, Whelan, Lansbury
Booked: Jedinak (59,f),
Referee:
Tony Harrington (Cleveland)
Attendance: 24,547