Watkins double helps Villa to beat Fulham and return to the top four

A lot has been made about Villa’s injuries of late as Bouba Kamara and Diego Carlos were the latest to join the injury list at Villa Park. Some of the media have started to take note, while others continue to overlook our situation.

Villa are currently without six first-team players as Pau Torres and Jacob Ramsey have recently returned from layoffs themselves. Many clubs seem to have gone through similar situations this season. Tottenham, Newcastle and Liverpool have all had problems and just as it did for them, the show must go on.

We can’t feel sorry for ourselves and we have to try and utilise those who are available to us. Our squad isn’t as big as some others but no one will care and why would they? Despite what Unai Emery will tell you, Villa want the Champions League so we need to all pull together, fans and players alike to ensure we give ourselves the best opportunity to get over the line.

Report: Fulham 1-2 Aston Villa

Unai Emery handed a start to Pau Torres who has been out of action since the beginning of January as he replaced Carlos. Kamara was replaced by Youri Tielemans as John McGinn dropped deeper to play alongside Diego Carlos.

It took the visitors just 2 minutes to put the ball into Fulham’s net when Ollie Watkins latched onto a through ball and beat Bernd Leno at his near post. The linesman quickly killed off any early celebrations as the goal was ruled out for being offside.

Then it was the host’s turn to see a goal ruled out for offside, mid-way through the first half when Tim Reid slotted home but VAR came to the rescue of Villa.

The deadlock was broken from the following attack. Jacob Ramsey’s poor touch bounced back to his feet from Willian, allowing him to find Watkins who turned away from Issa Diop and then found the bottom left corner.

Emery’s side thought they had doubled their lead, firstly through Leon Bailey but the woodwork came to the rescue of the home side. And then Àlex Moreno headed the ball into the back of the net only for VAR to rule his goal out for offside.

Villa looked hungry and it showed 10 minutes into the second half when they got a deserved second goal. Tielemans played a beautiful pass through to Watkins who lost his man before firing into the back of the net for his 18th goal in all competitions.

The hosts did pull themselves back into the game against the run of play when Antonee Robinson picked out Rodrigo Muniz at the near post making it 1-2.

Villa’s nerves kicked in given their recent form and Fulham grew in confidence without really threatening until the death when former Villan Adama Traore raced through but Emiliano Martínez showed why he is regarded of the best keepers in the current game.

A crucial and much-needed three points for Emery’s side as the return to the Premier League top four.

What the managers said

Emery: “After our defeat in the last match at home in the Premier League against Manchester United, it was an important week to prepare for this game, staying very focused and trying to come back a good result and good feelings.

“I think it was fantastic how the players worked, how they were focused on the match and trying to impose our position on the pitch. We did some fantastic work and some players are showing their qualities in different moments.”

Marco Silva: “We knew how we should play to get a good result against Villa and, how we conceded the goals, we were too soft. Against these types of sides in the Premier League, against these types of strikers and forward players, we have to be much stronger and we weren’t, unfortunately for us.

“Overall in the game, the looking, the fighting, the desire and believing until the end, I didn’t see too many differences between both teams, to be honest.”

Up Next

Both sides return to Premier League action next Saturday. Aston Villa will welcome Nottingham Forest to Villa Park while Villa will be hoping Fulham can do them a favour when they play Manchester United at Old Trafford.