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
Still being chased by Bournemouth and Brentford, there's no doubt that Fulham could do with taking at least one point from this game. Their record Premier League tally is 53, when they finished seventh under Roy Hodgson in 2009, so a comeback win would surpass that mark with three games remaining. However, it'll surely require more commitment to attack after the break.
Aston Villa vs Fulham
Martinez has his palms stung by an angled drive from Iwobi, who lashes towards the target from 20 yards out. It's been a quiet shift for Villa's goalkeeper, but he was ready when needed.
Aston Villa vs Fulham
In a fairly tepid Premier League contest at Villa Park, European hopefuls Aston Villa and Fulham are split by an early Tielemans header, which sees the hosts leading 1-0 at half-time. The Belgian midfielder met McGinn's corner-kick to power Villa in front, but further chances were few and far between, as Fulham ended with an xG of 0.18 to the home side's 0.12. There have been only two shots on target, though Tielemans went close to extending Villa's advantage shortly before the break, in a game marked by caution - and surely some tension.
Aston Villa vs Fulham
SAVE! Leno gets his fingertips on a superb strike by Tielemans, who takes a crack from the edge of the box. The ball is apparently bound for the top-right corner, but Fulham's 'keeper makes a fine stop! Strangely, the officials then award a goal-kick.
Aston Villa vs Fulham
Played in by Iwobi, an ambitious Jimenez decides to let fly from a wide angle, around 25 yards out. His shot spirals high and wide - that was taken more in hope than expectation.
Aston Villa vs Fulham
Though they are in front - and have barely been troubled by a flat Fulham side - it has been more than half an hour since Aston Villa last attempted a shot. This is not classic stuff at Villa Park.
Aston Villa vs Fulham
After Pau Torres concedes a free-kick after being drawn out wide, Wilson and Lukic stand over the set-piece. It's the latter who ultimately takes it, but his delivery is cut out by the first man. Fulham are missing their dead-ball specialist Andreas Pereira.
Aston Villa vs Fulham
Starved of opportunities to shine so far, Rogers skips away from two defenders and gets the fans out of their seats, but his low throughball lacks accuracy and drifts straight through to Leno.
Aston Villa vs Fulham
Fulham are following precedent, as the London club have won just once in their last 20 attempts to claim victory at Villa Park. They've lost 12 times along the way, and another defeat now would surely end hopes of matching their best-ever Premier League finish, seventh place.
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