Match Report
Fulham (1) 1-0 (0) Aston Villa
Premier League Match Day 34 25_26 at Craven Cottage
Saturday 25th April 2026, KO: 12:30
Referee:
Michael Oliver (Northumberland)
Live on TNT
|
Fulham a big victory over Champions League-chasing Aston Villa in Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off at Craven Cottage with Ryan Sessegnon’s opportunistic strike.
Sess’ composed finish towards the end of the first half proved the difference between the sides, after Saša Lukic was denied by Emiliano Martinez.
Villa never really got going and it was the Whites who thought they’d netted the second goal of the afternoon, but Timothy Castagne’s header was ruled out for an apparent foul on Martinez by Sander Berge.
Marco Silva made three changes to the side that had drawn with Brentford a week prior. Alex Iwobi picked up a hamstring injury at the Gtech so was replaced by compatriot Samuel Chukwueze, while Berge and Raúl Jiménez also came in for Tom Cairney and Rodrigo Muniz.
Fulham began on the front foot and Emile Smith Rowe almost fashioned a tap-in for Raúl after two minutes, but a crucial intervention by a claret body removed the chance.
| Match Stats |
Fulham |
Aston Villa |
| Goals |
(1) 1 |
0 (0) |
|
| Scorers |
Sessegnon 43 |
- |
| , |
| Goal attempts |
13 |
10 |
| On target |
6 |
1 |
6/13
| Shooting Accuracy |
46% |
10% |
| Possession |
39% |
71% |
| Passes |
337 |
526 |
| Passes Success |
82% |
86% |
| Crosses |
15 |
18 |
| Crosses Success |
27% |
6% |
| Corners |
2 |
5 |
| Tackles |
13 |
10 |
| Tackles Success |
72% |
77% |
| Saves |
1 |
0 | 5
| Fouls |
14 |
12 |
| Offsides |
7 |
1 |
| Yellows |
2 |
2 |
| Reds |
0 |
0 |
| source: SkySports |
Five minutes later, Villa put together a slick move that began in their right-back position and ended with Emi Buendia firing just over from the left of the Fulham box.
Harry Wilson and Saša Lukic then drew two saves in quick succession from Martinez, at the end of a high octane opening 10 minutes.
After a fast tempo start to proceedings, what came next could be described as a comparative lull, with saves from the respective goalkeepers to deny Ollie Watkins, Chukwueze and Berge pretty routine.
The best chance of the afternoon came on 34 minutes when Morgan Rogers cut out to the left to collect a long ball over Joachim Andersen. He then chopped in to a favourable shooting position, drilling marginally wide of the target.
Buoyed by that passage of play, Villa threatened again almost immediately, this time Watkins showing great hold-up play before rolling his man and dragging a shot just beyond the far post.
But it was first blood to Fulham, with a fine week for Sessegnon getting even better. Three days on from the news that an extension to his contract had been triggered, he was there to coolly slam home after Martinez had kept out Lukic’s header from a fabulous Castagne delivery.
Wilson will be disappointed he didn’t double the lead soon after the restart when he robbed last man Lucas Digne of possession, only to drag his subsequent effort wide of the upright.
Villa had to wait until the hour mark for their first sight of goal in the second half, and Watkins is a much better striker than his wild effort would suggest when he worked a yard of space in the area.
Castagne had been enjoying a very tidy game indeed and thought he’d made it 2-0 when he headed in Lukic’s corner, but referee Michael Oliver deemed that there was a foul on Martinez from Sander Berge.
In addition to Unai Emery replacing his entire midfield in a quadruple substitution, Tammy Abraham had also come on for Watkins, and within minutes shimmied a challenge to go in on goal, only to balloon his effort over the bar.
Oscar Bobb had come on for Fulham and showed incredible technique to bring Andersen’s diagonal under his spell before nutmegging Matty Cash. Unfortunately, the shot at the end of it lacked the power to trouble Martinez.
Thankfully, the one goal was sufficient to bag what could be three big points in Fulham’s Premier League run-in.
Fulham boss Marco Silva to TNT Sports
A great win for us. A massive three points. We knew before the match it was like a must-win game for us if you want to keep competing for something special until the end of the season and keep us around the places for European competition.
"To keep them with zero goals in a game, with the capacity they have, I'm very pleased. We kept them very quiet."
Fulham 1-0 Aston Villa highlights
Fulham: Leno, Castagne, Andersen, Bassey, Sessegnon (Robinson 81), Lukic, Berge, Wilson, Smith Rowe (King 76), Chukwueze (Bobb 76), Jimenez (R Muniz 66)
Unused substitutes: Reed, Cairney, Kusi-Asare, Lecomte,
Goals:
Ryan Sessegnon 43 ( left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner.)
Yellow Card: Harry Wilson (delaying restart,90+1), Castagne (f,47)
Aston Villa: Martínez, Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne, Bogarde, (D Luiz 74), Tielemans (Sancho 74), McGinn (Barkley 74), Rogers, Buendia (Bailey 74), Watkins (Abraham 81)
Unused substitutes: Lindelof, Mings, Barkley, Maatsen, Bizot
Yellow Card: Torres (f,49), Luiz (f,90+4),
Referee:
Michael Oliver (Northumberland)
Attendance: 27,606
Fulham are next in action against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday 2nd of May 17.30. live on Sky Sports.