Aston Villa secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Fulham at Villa Park, earning their fifth consecutive top-flight home win without conceding for the first time since 1983. The victory keeps Villa’s push for European football alive.
Despite Fulham’s perfect record in midweek Premier League fixtures, they struggled to make a mark against Villa. Andreas Pereira’s acrobatic attempt in the opening minute went wide, setting the tone for Fulham’s offensive difficulties. Villa relied on the prowess of Ollie Watkins, who sought to set a personal best Premier League scoring season. A potential penalty for Watkins was dismissed after a VAR review.
It was Villa captain Tyrone Mings who broke the deadlock in the 21st minute, directing John McGinn’s corner into the net. This goal continued Villa’s streak of scoring in every Premier League game under manager Unai Emery, setting a new record for the competition. As Villa pursued European qualification, Fulham struggled to find their footing, failing to convert any chances into goals.
Watkins had an opportunity to secure his personal record in the final 20 minutes, but the shot went off target under pressure. Fulham, meanwhile, couldn’t muster a single shot on target throughout the match. Although they thought they had equalized when Mings inadvertently redirected Harrison Reed’s cross into his own net, the offside flag ensured Villa’s victory.
This win extends Aston Villa’s unbeaten run to 10 matches and keeps them in contention for European football, while Fulham appears set for a mid-table finish.
Man of the Match – Tyrone Mings – Aston Villa
