BBC SPORT | Football | Eng Prem | Villa too strong for Fulham

Aston Villa 3-1 Fulham

Aston Villa picked up their first Premiership win in six games with a 3-1 win over Fulham at Villa Park.

I think the players knew this was an important game to win

Graham Taylor,
Aston Villa manager

Juan Pablo Angel, Marcus Allback and Oyvind Leonhardsen all got their first league goals of the season to lift some of the pressure off manager Graham Taylor.

Fulham had periods on top but were unable to make their chances count and they fell to their fourth defeat in six games on their travels.

Angel brought a dull game to life in the 20th minute on his return to the Villa starting line-up.

Key moments

20 mins: Juan Pablo Angel opens the scoring

51 mins: Luis Boa Morte grabs an equaliser just after half-time

66 mins: Marcus Allback restores the Villa lead

83 mins: Leonhardsen secures the three points for Villa

Ian Taylor fired in a shot that Fulham keeper Edwin van der Sar did well to tip around the post for the first corner of the game.

Taylor then did well to get on the end of Mark Kinsella's inswinging corner but his header was going wide.

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However, an unmarked Angel stooped to head home despite the efforts of Van der Sar to keep it out.

We need a leader on the pitch, we need to sort things out now

Jean Tigana,
Fulham manager

Fulham were let down by their delivery in the final third and it was looking comfortable for Taylor's men.

The visitors had the ball in the net when Steve Marlet headed home from a Steed Malbranque cross, but a late flag from the referee's assistant cut short their celebrations.

Luis Boa Morte then produced a fine effort with the final passage of play in the first half when he drove in a left foot shot that Enckelman did well to get down and save.

Fulham carried on where they left off in the opening stages of the second period.

Luis Boa Morte
Boa Morte cancelled out Angel's goal

Malbranque got into a great goalscoring position but with just Enckelman to beat he skied his shot into the Holte End.

But moments later they were on level terms when Boa Morte finished off a good move to hold off Steve Staunton before placing the ball past Enckelman.

Villa responded with Leonhardsen seeing a shot well blocked by Alain Goma.

But Fulham were beginning to get on top and shots from Steve Finnan and substitute Junichi Inamoto tested Enckelman.

However, Villa restored the lead after 66 minutes when Barry crossed, Leonhardsen got a touch and Allback fired into the net.

With Fulham pushing forward Villa finished the job when Allback nodded down for Leonhardsen, who made no mistake from close range to score his first goal for two years.

Fulham boss Jean Tigana saw his side slip to their fourth consecutive defeat in the Premiership.

Aston Villa: Enckelman, Delaney, Samuel, Mellberg, Staunton (Johnsen 76), Barry, Taylor, Kinsella (Hitzlsperger 62), Leonhardsen, Angel (Allback 45), Dublin.
Subs Not Used: Postma, Moore.

Booked: Leonhardsen, Taylor, Allback.

Fulham: Van der Sar, Finnan, Melville, Goma, Brevett, Malbranque, Djetou (Inamoto 45), Legwinski, Ouaddou (Stolcers 72), Marlet, Boa Morte (Sava 78).
Subs Not Used: Taylor, Knight.

Booked: Melville, Boa Morte.

Attendance: 29,563

Referee: A D'Urso (Essex).


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