Aston Villa vs Fulham LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction
Follow all the action from Villa Park
Follow live coverage as Aston Villa face Fulham today in the Premier League. Another top-flight season will be covered in full right here with The Independent, as reigning champions Manchester City look to make it an unprecedented five titles in a row come the end of 2024/25.
The likes of Arsenal and Liverpool will be chasing Pep Guardiola's side, but just as fascinating will be the race for Champions League places, with more teams than ever before having designs on top-four finishes. Chelsea remain big-spending, Manchester United's latest rebuild continues and both Tottenham and Newcastle will expect improvements this year - yet it was Aston Villa who snared fourth last term.
Meanwhile, it's Southampton, Leicester City and Ipswich Town who made it back to the elite after promotion last year and each will have hope they can make it more than a one-year stay. Follow the latest live action from the Premier League below:
Aston Villa vs Fulham
Yellow Card Adama Traoré Diarra
Aston Villa vs Fulham
Bouncing back from successive defeats, Aston Villa return to winning ways against a flat Fulham side, edging to a tense 1-0 win at Villa Park. Taking them level with Chelsea and Nottingham Forest in the Premier League table, Unai Emery's men claim three points thanks to an early Tielemans header that ultimately separates the sides. Leno and Martinez both made a handful of saves, Watkins missed two chances, and Malen struck the crossbar late on, but it was far from a classic contest. Villa's final xG of 0.86, compared to Fulham's 0.71, sums up a lack of precision across the final third, but the home team pull nine points clear of their visitors and are still in the hunt for a cherished top-five finish. While Marco Silva's side host Everton next week - when they could trail Brighton, Brentford and Bournemouth - in the race for European qualification, Villa visit the latter in seven days time. That's all from Birmingham today, so thank you for joining us and goodbye!
Aston Villa vs Fulham
Fulham are forcing Aston Villa back now, trying to engineer one last opening. The hosts are keeping compact, though, and they can surely sense the finish line.
Aston Villa vs Fulham
OFF THE BAR! Malen strikes the woodwork late on! Played through by Ramsey, the substitute striker holds off Andersen and drives his shot towards the target, but it rattles back off the crossbar! That was so close to sealing victory for Villa!
Aston Villa vs Fulham
Summing up Fulham's attacking efforts today, Andersen pumps an angled cross from the right straight out of play, over the left byline. Of course, Martinez will be in no hurry to take the subsequent goal-kick.
Aston Villa vs Fulham
There will be at least eight minutes of stoppage time at the end of this second half, and Onana is left down on the pitch during the first. He was caught in an aerial challenge by Jimenez, who then appeals his innocence - and is right to do so.
Aston Villa vs Fulham
Set up by Adama Traore's pass inside from the right, fellow sub Smith Rowe prods a hopeful attempt several yards wide of the left-hand post. Can Fulham carve out one more chance to salvage something from this game?
Aston Villa vs Fulham
Meeting the dropping ball, following a Jimenez header, Traore skews a tough volley over the crossbar. It was asking a lot to control that shot, but Fulham have to go for everything now.
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