Fulham 2 - 1 Aston Villa

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Sunday Feb 03 2008 04:00

Roy Hodgson's revolution is starting to gather pace at Craven Cottage and the spirited 2-1 victory against Champions League hopefuls Aston Villa was evidence enough that there is enough fight left in Fulham to survive relegation.Jimmy Bullard's 25-yard free-kick with only four minutes remaining rightfully earned Hodgson's team their first win the Premier League in 12 attempts.

For their visitors, now flush with England squad members, the disappointment of the defeat - only their second on their travels this campaign - was compounded by an injury to Gabriel Agbonlahor, who limped off with hamstring trouble at the interval.

The young forward now looks certain to miss England's friendly game against Switzerland, and an opportunity to make his international bow.

Not that Hodgson will care, his team looked up for the contest from the off and kept their heads up even when Villa took the lead with 20 minutes remaining.

Norway international Erik Nevland, on his debut, toiled alone in attack in Hodgson's 4-5-1 formation and the home side enjoyed the lion's share of the first-half possession without ever looking like scoring. Villa sat back, soaked up the pressure and allowed Fulham to come at them.

Ironically, it was only after the goal, conceded in the 69th minute, that the Fulham players really took the game by the scruff of the neck.

Captain Aaron Hughes, against the club he played for last season, nudged the ball into his own net after Shaun Maloney's corner, much to his embarrassment.

Within four minutes Fulham had equalised through winger Simon Davies. He stole in front of England hopeful Curtis Davies to flick Bullard's cross past Scott Carson.

A sense of belief lifted the home side and when Davies felled substitute Diomansy Kamara on 85 minutes, there was only one man who was going to take the kick.

Bullard stepped up and hit his shot over the wall and past Carson, who should have done better. Fulham still remain second from bottom in the table, but things are looking up for Hodgson's team.

With his first win now secured and new players to come in, Hodgson will be happy.

Club captain Brian McBride, who has not featured since August, entered the fray as a second-half substitute, much to the delight of the home supporters.

But the new Craven Cottage favourite is tousled and impish midfielder Bullard.

Live Commentary

90
And the final whistle goes! Fulham complete the proverbrial great escape and take their first win since November and under new boss Roy Hodgson.

90
Isaiah Osbourne replaces Curtis Davies.

90
Simon Davies has been booked for unsporting behaviour.

90
There will be three minutes of stoppage time to be played.

89
The home crowd are bouncing as they sense a crucial victory is nearly upon them.

86
Jimmy Bullard scores! He hit a great free-kick from long range, the ball sailed over the wall and left Carson motionless as the ball flew into the net.

85
Curtis Davies is booked for a foul on Diomansy Kamara.

83
The final ten minutes are going to be a tense affair, however, Fulham, at the moment, look more likely to score than Villa.

79
Diomansy Kamara replaces Clint Dempsey.

77
Brede Hangeland has a great chance to score, but he drills his close range effort straight at Scott Carson.

77
Villa will be very unhappy that they held the lead for such a short amount of time, whereas Fulham will feel that they can take all 3 points.

75
And the game has improved in tempo ten-fold, as the crowd and players all suddenly seem much more interested in the game.

72
Simon Davies scores! Bullard crossed in the ball, and Davies simply helped the ball on and into the net.

71
Martin Laursen should have scored, the ball fell to him only a couple of yards out from goal, but he hammers it over the bar.

70
Brian McBride replaces Erik Nevland.

68
Villa have scored! Mellberg backheels the ball towards goal, and it appears to take a deflection off Aaron Hughes before going in.

67
The home crowd are trying to jeer up their team, but Fulham are still failing to produce note-worthy chances.

63
Wilfred Bouma is booked for a foul on Clint Dempsey.

62
Erik Nevland clears Shaun Maloney's header on goal, and Villa are certainly on top at the moment, is this perhaps down to the introduction of Harewood?

58
Villa have come out the better in the second half, and as a result, Fulham are beginning to defend deeper and deeper, a dangerous game to be playing.

54
With Young out through suspension and Agbonlahor out injured, the attacking prowress of Villa seems to be diminishing, which will no doubt be great news to Fulham.

51
Villa produce a good move, but Harewood's ball to Petrov just lacks the quality, and Fulham get away with the ball.

48
That could be a huge blow for Agbonlahor, who would have had a great chance to play for England come Wednesday.

45
Marlon Harewood has replaced Gabriel Agbonlahor, who came off at half-time with what seems to be a hamstring injury.

45
The second half begins, and both sides will be looking to create more guilt-edged chances when they dominate possession, something they were unable to do in the first 45.

45
The whistle goes, and after 45 minutes, both teams go into the break without creating many chances of note, however Shaun Maloney has played very well for Villa.

45
There will just be the single minute of stoppage time to be added.

42
Only a few minutes until the break, and bar an exceptional piece of play, it lookd like it will be goal-less going into half-time.

39
Shaun Maloney produces a cross come shot, and with Agbonlahor and Carew ready to pounce, Fulham somehow clear the ball.

35
The shot from Carew deflects to Shaun Maloney, but he tries to chip the keeper, and the effort goes safely over the bar.

34
Almost ten minutes to go, and the fans are unstandably quiet at the moment as the game fails to produce exciting football.

31
Shaun Maloney has a great chance for Villa, but he cant keep the effort down and that was a waste of good play.

30
Carew heads on a long ball, but Gabriel Agbonlahor is just unable to get on the end of it as Villa look to put some pressure on the Fulham goal.

26
Fulham are starting to fight back as they begin to pin Villa back in their own half with some good play, but there's still a lack of chances in the game so far.

23
The game has gone into a bit of a lull as both teams struggle to show attacking intent in their play.

19
Villa are just edging out Fulham in terms of possession, however, in terms of chances, both sides are on par.

15
Shaun Maloney has a long range effort on goal, but the ball us deflected out for a corner, which is hit harmlessly over the heads of everyone in the box.

12
Wilfred Bouma clears the ball from underneath the bar from a Demspey header, and that was a good chance for the home side.

10
Shaun Maloney supplies a great ball to Gabriel Agbonlahor, but his cross into the box is caught comfortably.

7
Clint Dempsey tries his luck from range, but the effort goes safely wide, and its a very open start from both sides so far.

4
Shaun Maloney delivers a good corner ball, but the danger is cleared by Fulham.

2
Bullard hits a great free-kick from a dangerous position, but it deflects of a defender and goes off for a corner.

0
Chris Foy is the referee in charge at Craven Cottage this afternoon, and Villa will be favourites going into this game against a Fulham side in very shakey form.

0
Ashley Young misses his first league game of the season through suspension as Villa start with: Carson, Mellberg, Laursen, Davies, Bouma, Petrov, Barry, Reo-Coker, Maloney, Agbonlahor, Carew

0
New signing Erik Nevland starts for Fulham, however, other new signings Litmanen & Stalteri are unavailable as Fulham kick-off with: Niemi, Baird, Hughes, Andreasen, Hangeland, Konchesky, Bullard, Davies, Murphy, Dempsey, Nevland

Statistics

Fulham

Shots on target	8
Shots off target	3
Shots off bar/post	0
Fouls	9
Offsides	4
Corners	3

Aston Villa

Shots on target	6
Shots off target	5
Shots off bar/post	0
Fouls	13
Offsides	4
Corners	10

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