Aston Villa remain unbeaten on the road this season and just one defeat in eleven in all competitions following their 1-3 victory over Fulham at Craven Cottage yesterday afternoon.
Rewind two years, and Aston Villa sacked then-manager Steven Gerrard following a 3-0 defeat against Fulham. It’s been quite an upward trajectory since then, and they do say things happen for a reason. Unai Emery replaced the departing Gerrard and the rest is history.
Despite our consistency and form since the appointment of Emery I still approached yesterday’s game with caution. Fulham, before yesterday, were unbeaten at home and despite Villa’s recent form, in recent years, these are the kind of games we don’t turn up. It wasn’t to be. The win saw Villa rise into the top four and just a point off table-topping Liverpool.
Emery proudly stated in his press conference on Friday afternoon that he had a full squad to choose from, even if some lacked match fitness. When the team sheet was released, the bench looked as strong as I think I have ever seen it and there was still no place for Tyrone Mings who is still recovering from a long-term injury. The defender did travel though and watched on from the sidelines.
The home side got off to a dream start when they took the lead in the fifth minute. Fulham keeper, Bernd Leno sent a long ball upfield for Raúl Jiménez who was able to hold off a challenge from Pau Torres before slotting the ball into the back of the net off the right post.
Despite a sloppy start from Villa, they were level just four minutes later when Morgan Rogers ran at the Fulham back four before shooting from the edge of the box. His effort took a deflection to leave Leno wrong-footed to make it 1-1.
Against the run of play, Fulham then found themselves being awarded a penalty when the ball was judged to have hit Matty Cash’s hand via VAR. Andreas Pereira stepped up to take the penalty but Emiliano Martínez was equal to the tame effort and kept the scores level.
The visitors should have got themselves ahead just before the half-time interval when Jacob Ramsey picked out Rogers in the middle of the goal but the England-u21 spurred his effort wide when it looked easier to score.
Villa did eventually take a deserved lead just before the hour mark when Youri Tielemans, continuing his fine start to the season, picked out Ollie Watkins from a corner to head home.
Moments later Fulham found themselves down to ten men when Rogers played Watkins through, the striker got ahead of the defender, Joachim Andersen but was brought down in a clumsy foul leaving the officials no option but to show a red card.
Four minutes later it went from bad to worse when substitute Issa Diop directed Lucas Digne’s cross into his net to make it 1-3.
Villa also ended the game with ten men when substitute Jaden Philogene was shown a very harsh second yellow card but Emery will be happy with the result and his side climbed into the top four.
Youri Tielemans continued his fine form this season and assisted Watkins for the second goal. The midfielder continues to dictate the midfield with ease. Many wondered how we would cope with the loss of Douglas Luiz, myself included but the Belgian has made the position his own and some would argue he is an upgrade on the Brazilian.
Emery: “I’m very proud of our mentality. We are trying to keep the same performances we had last year in the Premier League and be consistent, focusing on each match as strongly as possible, tactically, individually, in our mentality, and then enjoying as well and trying to compete in the Champions League.
“We needed today to play this match like we did, competing, and competing here against Fulham because they are in a very good moment, they have a very good coach, very good players, and always it’s very difficult to beat them here.
“We did a fantastic job. And even if they scored one goal, even if they had a penalty, we were always in the same idea, playing with our game plan, focusing 100 per cent.”
Marco Silva: “It was not at all a good performance from us.
“It’s a bit weird the way we conceded goals and we were not able to punish them in some moments as well. After the penalty, I think I felt the team a bit more nervous. We were not playing at our best level and after the penalty even more.”
Aston Villa will host Serie A side Bologna at Villa Park on Tuesday night in the Champions League. Bournemouth will follow the Italian side next weekend to Villa Park in the Premier League.
Fulham are back in action next Saturday evening when they travel to Everton in the Premier League.