Fulham 2 Aston Villa 1
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Roy Hodgson gets
his first win |
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Jimmy Bullard scored a late winner to earn relegation-haunted Fulham a vital Barclays
Premier League victory against Aston Villa at Craven Cottage.
Bullard, who spent 16 months out with a career-threatening knee injury, scored a
superb free-kick to give
Roy Hodgson his first win since he replaced
Lawrie Sanchez as manager.
Midfielder Simon Davies had levelled in the 72nd minute after Aaron Hughes had scored
an own goal to put Villa in front four minutes earlier.
Villa were hampered by the loss of new England recruit Gabriel Agbonlahor through injury at half-time - the striker may now
be forced to withdraw from the squad to
face Switzerland next Wednesday.
| Match Stats |
Fulham |
A. Villa |
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Goals |
2 |
1 |
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Possession |
48% |
52% |
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Goal attempts |
13 |
11 |
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On Target |
8 |
6 |
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Corners |
3 |
10 |
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Off-sides |
4 |
4 |
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Saves |
2 |
3 |
|
Fouls |
9 |
13 |
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Yellows |
1 |
2 |
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Reds |
0 |
0 |
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source: Soccernet |
Fulham began the game in an ebullient fashion and almost opened the scoring in the
second minute but Bullard's 20-yard free-kick was deflected over the bar by Curtis
Davies.
In the 12th minute Clint Dempsey's header was cleared off the line by Wilfred Bouma as the home side continued to dominate the early exchanges.
Fulham continued to press forward and looked much the better side with new signing
Erik Nevland a constant threat in attack.
In the 20th minute Nevland rose highest to meet a free-kick from Davies but he could not direct his header on target.
For a team chasing a European place this season, Villa were disappointing and Agbonlahor
found it difficult to get into the game.
The Villa striker struggled to find any space in attack.
Fulham, with Bullard orchestrating the midfield, just lacked the perfect final ball.
Paul Konchesky tried to find Nevland inside the area in the 19th minute but his
pass was quickly cut out by Olof Mellberg.
But Hodgson's side were determined not to let Villa control the game and they continued
to cause the visitors problems in defence.
Fulham's clever approach work was continually let down by their inability to place
the final ball into the danger area.
Villa's first real attempt on goal arrived on the half-hour when Agbonlahor got
clear of the Cottagers' defence and should have won a corner when his shot was deflected
wide by goalkeeper Antti Niemi.
Villa winger Shaun Maloney then tried his luck from the edge of the penalty area
after a mistake by Chris Baird allowed him the time and space to have a shot.
But Fulham demonstrated they were still dangerous on the counter-attack and seconds
later Davies failed to get his left foot over the ball - and his shot bounced tamely
into the arms of the waiting Scott Carson.
Another mistake by Baird gave Maloney another chance in the 36th minute but again the winger failed to hit the target.
Villa wasted a chance to opening the scoring six minutes before the break when Maloney's
cross eluded the outstretched foot of John Carew on the edge of the six-yard box.
The visitors then lost the services of Agbonlahor at half-time - he was replaced
by Marlon Harewood.
Villa looked a little more inventive after the restart and John Carew should have
done better with a 20-yard effort which failed to test Niemi.
Bouma was booked by referee Chris Foy in the 62nd minute when he was adjudged to
have fouled Dempsey - but the resultant free-kick was wasted.
Villa looked the more likely to break the deadlock and a speculative volley from
substitute Harewood bobbled into the hands
of Niemi.
And they got their goal in the 69th minute when Hughes - playing against his former
club - turned Maloney's corner into his own net under pressure from Carew.
The hosts immediately sent on Brian McBride for his first appearance since dislocating
a kneecap in August 2007.
But Fulham were level four minutes later when Bullard supplied a clever pass for
Davies to flick the ball past Carson.
And the comeback was complete when Curtis Davies fouled Diomansy Kamara on the edge
of the penalty area - setting up Bullard for his free-kick heroics.
Fulham Niemi, Baird, Hughes, Andreasen, Hangeland, Konchesky,Bullard, Davies, Murphy, Dempsey (Kamara 79),Nevland (McBride 70).
Subs Not Used: Keller, Volz, Bocanegra.
Booked: Davies (90,f).
Goals:
Davies 73 (Cross by Jimmy Bullard, goal by Simon Davies right-footed into bottom-right of goal from right side of six-yard box) Quality.
Bullard 86 (Free kick scored by Jimmy Bullard right-footed into top-left of goal. As good as the Ronaldo one that Fergie went on about)
Aston Villa Carson, Mellberg, Laursen, Davies (Osbourne 90),Bouma (Gardner
87), Petrov, Barry, Reo-Coker, Maloney,Agbonlahor (Harewood 46), Carew.
Subs Not Used: Taylor, Knight.
Booked: Bouma, Davies.
Goals: Hughes 69 og.
Att: 24,760
Ref: Chris Foy (Merseyside).