Villa win a couple of free kicks in the Fulham half and wind down the clock further.

We are into the final minute of normal time and the instantly forgettable game is merely drifting towards it's conclusion.

Fulham are enjoying a spell of possession but don't really look like conjouring up a goal for us in the final minutes.

Damien Duff swings in a free kick at the Villa goal but the ball flicks off the head of Clint Dempsey and goes out for a goal kick.

Ashley Young gets the nod from the physio to carry on so that will be a relief to Martin O'Neill.

A slight worry for Villa here as Ashley Young drops to the turf and looks in a bit of pain with his right knee.

Just under 10 minutes remaining and Fulham are still waiting to test Brad Friedel in the Villa goal. They have missed Andrew Johnson and Bobby Zamora in their attack.

Another Ashley Young corner is knocked out to Stiliyan Petrov but he fails to get a clean shot at goal and it goes well wide of the upright.

James Milner crosses for John Carew but John Pantsil heads out for a corner. shley Young plays it in from the left and Eddie Johnson heads out for another corner.

Villa are happily knocking the ball about between themselves at the moment just waiting for an opportunity to attack to develop.

A ball knocked forward sees John Carew flagged offside as he races through at goal which proved to be a poor decision from the referee's assistant.

Fulham have a spell of pressure as Villa finally have to do some defending but they just cannot get the shot in at goal.

Ashley Young's second corner is punched clear by Mark Schwarzer as Villa maintain possession.

Ashley Young gets in behind down the left but Aaron Hughes does well to concede a corner. Ashley Young puts it in and James Milner volleys back across goal as Fulham concede a second corner.

John Carew looked like he was going to come on just before the second goal but he has sat back down now for the time being.

Fulham get forward down the right and a low cross goes into the area but it is too close to Brad Friedel which sums up their afternoon so far.

Fulham have a bit of possession now but Villa just seem happy to try and sit back and pick them off on the break.

There is still half an hour to go but that goal looks like it has killed the game off as Fulham have barely troubled Brad Friedel.

Fulham are having their little spell of the ball now but, like Villa, they lack any cutting edge in the final third and more often than not lose possession too easily.

John Carew and Emile Heskey are sat on the bench looking to get the nod as James Milner fires a cross-shot out for a goal kick.

James Milner puts an inswinging free kick in from the right which Brede Hangeland heads away as Villa start to step it up a little now.

Clint Dempsey hits a great powerful strike which fizzes over the bar with Brad Friedel looking confident that he would have stopped it if it were lower.

A good free kick chance for Fulham here just outside the area about 30 yards from goal.

Erik Nevland gets a shot in on goal but luckily for Villa Ciaran Clark took the ball in his face to block it.

Fulham are still enjoying the upper hand but Villa try and break only for Gabriel Agbonlahor to wander just offside.

A bright opening from Fulham possession wise but no real cutting edge in the final third yet.

Two minutes of stoppage time to be played at the end of this half.

A good attempt at a ball through for Ashley Young but it runs through to Mark Schwarzer as Villa continue to do the pressing.

The pace of the game has slowed down as we approach the half time interval with Villa looking comfortable on their lead.

James Milner puts a high cross into the box which Mark Schwarzer gathers under some pressure from Steve Sidwell.

The goal scoring chances have been at a premium really since Villa went in front which seems an age ago.

It is all Villa possession wise as they probe at the Fulham back line trying to pick a hole in it and create a second goal.

Ashley Young puts the corner in and again Mark Schwarzer gathers as Jonathan Greening goes off briefly to get a spot of blood rubbed off his knee.

Ashley Young gets a free kick out on the left touchline which he plays in and Dickson Etuhu heads it just over his own bar.

John Pantsil concedes a corner by blocking Gabriel Agbonlahor's attempted cross. Ashley Young fires it from the left but Mark Schwarzer makes the claim.

Damien Duff puts in another good cross but Habib Beye is on hand to put off Diomansy Kamara from getting in a header at goal.

Damien Duff swings in the corner kick but Clint Dempsey heads it down instead of into the goal as Villa hack it clear.

Fulham break at speed and Damien Duff's cross into the middle is headed behind by Ciaran Clark for a corner.

James Milner lifts another decent cross into the centre for Villa but Brede Hangeland clears the danger.

Paul Konchesky wins a corner down the left now as Fulham push forward. The ball is played in but Clint Dempsey can't get a clean connection with his header.

Ashley Young fizzes this corner in with his right foot and Ciaran Clark gets underneath it and heads over the bar.

Villa are dominating the midfield here as Ashley Young wins another corner down the right this time.

Villa have a bit of pressure here but Gabriel Agbonlahor's header at goal is easily held by Mark Schwarzer.

Gabriel Agbonlahor has an effort from outside the area which goes out for a corner off Dickson Etuhu. James Milner plays it in but Mark Schwarzer collects this time.

Fulham are just showing signs of creeping into this game but have yet to really test Brad Friedel in Villa's goal.

Villa have a free kick almost central to goal about 30 yards out. Ashley Young chips it to the back post but Steve Sidwell heads it wide from within a crowd of players.

Dickson Etuhu has cut his hand and needs some treatment which holds the game up momentarily.

Another free kick from the right is played in from near the corner flag by Damien Duff but Clint Dempsey somehow heads over from six yards.

Clint Dempsey hits the free kick from 30 yards against the wall and Damien Duff's follow up is blocked by Ciaran Clark.

Carlos Cuellar gives away a dangerous free kick to Fulham after tripping Diomansy Kamara.

Paul Konchesky does well to clear in front of his own goal as Gabriel Agbonlahor whipped a low cross into the middle towards James Milner.

Fulham are having to push forward more than they would like now they are behind and Villa can hit them on the break as Steve Sidwell is caught offside waiting for a cross into the centre.

Clint Dempsey wins a free kick after a foul by Nigel Reo-Coker. Damien Duff whips it in from the right but Villa clear.

It is almost two here as Gabriel Agbonlahor and Brede Hangeland are battling for the ball just inside the Fulham area and Steve Sidwell comes in to blast it over the bar.

Fulham have been stunned by that early goal, but it is great for Villa after the disappointment of their midweek European exit.

Aaron Hughes knocks a really poor backpass to Mark Schwarzer who then falls over and gives away a needless corner.

The sides are just knocking it between themselves in the early exchanges of the game with no threat to speak of yet.