Three minutes of stoppage time will be played.

Downing takes a corner short to eat up time - this match is well and truly over as a contest.

Villa get a free-kick in Fulham's half to get some respite, but in truth they have hardly been under siege at the back.

Villa are getting most of their men behind the ball, knowing they have nearly done their job.

ime is running out for the Cottagers. Villa have defended well in the second half but Roy Hodgson will be concerned by his team's lack of cutting edge.

Elm nearly fiinds room with a header at the back post, but the excellent Richard Dunne intervenes.

Fulham have a couple of corners but they just can't turn pressure into chances.

David Elm finds the net from Gera's pass, but the flag is up for offside.

Ashley Young and James Milner havea good chance to break for Villa, but the latter's pass goes out of play with Fulham stretched.

Hangeland stays forward after a Fulham set-piece but his header loops harmlessly wide.

Stewart Downing breaks at pace down the Villa left, but Ashley Young can't get his effort on goal from a well-directed cross.

Bobby Zamora sets up Zoltan Gera on the edge of Villa's area, but the Hungarian's shot is deflected just wide.

The visitors prove their threat on the break, Smalling hacking clear with Heskey ready to pounce.

Fulham are building the pressure with a sustained spell of possession, but Villa are happy to play on the break, knowing they have some dangerous pace in attack.

Murphy does well to pick out Zamora in the Villa box, but the forward can't direct his effort goalwards.

Brede Hangeland heads Damien Duff's corner wide under pressure from two Villa defenders.

The hosts are trying to up the tempo in the search for a way back into this match, Gera forcing Friedel into a decent low save.

Zoltan Gera whips in a decent cross for Bobby Zamora, but James Collins heads clear.

Fulham rely on Danny Murphy's creativity but the former England man has not got into the game today.

Stewart Downing scuffs a shot with his weaker right foot, Schwarzer saves easily.

Fulham need to get Bobby Zamora into the game in the same way Villa's frontmen have.

Villa are finishing the half strongly at Craven Cottage.

Gera has a shot well-blocked by Richard Dunne.

Stiliyan Petrov bursts into the Fulham box but fizzes his shot over from a tight angle.

Villa have a succession of corners but they cannot create a clear-cut chance.

Nevland and Richard Dunne have a shoving match after a collision, but no cards are shown.

Gera has a chance to shoot but the effort is blocked and Nevland heads over after Gera returned the ball into the box.

Villa are having success in getting the ball to Downing and Luke Young in wide areas, but Heskey and Gabriel Agbonlahor have not yet been found in space.

Milner releases Ashley Young down the Fulham right flank but the England's winner lacks the power to beat Schwarzer at his near post.

The visitors are gradually taking charge, with Stiliyan Petrov and James Milner to the fore in midfield.

Heskey's snap-shot tests Mark Schwarzer, but the keeper didn't have to move far to gather.

Villa are improving and the match is becoming a slightly scrappy midfield affair.

Villa have their first corner of the match, but Stewart Downing's delivery is poor and Aaron Hughes clears at the near post.

Brede Hangeland and Heskey get in a tangle, with the defender getting penalised by the referee - the pair will have a heavyweight battle today.

Friedel saves again, this time from Simon Davies - Villa are hanging on and need to get a foothold in the game.

Fulham are on the front foot in the early stages, Brad Friedel saving well from Damien Duff after Collins blocked a shot by the Irish winger.

Bobby Zamora finds space to shoot on the edge of Villa's box, but James Collins gets a block in.

The first chance of the game is Villa's, Emile Heskey heading over from 12 yards out.