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Aston Villa 2 Fulham 1 - Report and pictures

Albert Adomah netted his sixth goal of the season as Villa rebounded from their derby defeat to Wolves by beating Fulham to climb into the Championship top six.

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The winger fired home Josh Onomah’s cross early in the second half to settle an entertaining encounter in the favour of Steve Bruce’s side.

Skipper John Terry had given Villa a first-half lead when he headed home Conor Hourihane’s free-kick for his first goal for the club.

Stefan Johansen pulled Fulham level on the stroke of half-time but Adomah ensured Villa took the spoils.

Analysis

The win, the fifth in six games, saw them move into fifth spot in the table ahead of next Sunday’s Second City showdown with Blues.

It was an excellent result on many levels, not least in ensuring the disappointment of last week’s performance at Molineux was quickly forgotten.

Bruce can take satisfaction from a set-up which worked impressively. The manager made just one change from the team which lost 2-0 at Wolves but it was a decisive one, with Josh Onomah putting in a man-of-the-match performance in midfield behind Jonathan Kodjia.

After wrestling control of an entertaining first-half through Terry’s goal, Villa found themselves pegged back by Johansen’s leveller.

Yet they responded strongly, re-taking the lead through Adomah and seeing the win out, though they were indebted to a superb save from keeper Sam Johnstone to prevent Floyd Ayite bagging another leveller.

In a lively start, Fulham would have led inside three minutes had Aboubakar Kamara made a better connection with an inviting Ryan Sessegnon cross, after Ayite had raced through Villa’s midfield.

Kamara also drilled across the face of Villa’s goal, following more good work from Sessegnon, as the visitors showed their attacking prowess.

Villa had plenty of attacks themselves but the final ball eluded them until Terry headed them in front on 23 minutes.

Tim Ream rather clumsily upended Robert Snodgrass on the right wing and when Hourihane swung in the free-kick, Terry was at the head of a queue of home players to finish, the former England skipper running to the visiting fans to celebrate.

Their tails up, Villa went in search of second and, after being first tested by Hourihane, Fulham keeper David Button saved a dipping long-range Onomah effort with his chest.

Button was then quickly out to block from Kodjia at close range after the striker had been played in by Onomah.

But just when it looked as though Villa had grasped control, they were pegged back with just seconds of the half remaining.

Glenn Whelan bundled over Ayite on the edge of the box and Johansen drilled the free-kick off the far post and in.

It was hugely frustrating for Villa but they responded in the perfect manner by re-taking the lead early in the second half.

Whelan played in Onomah on the right of the box and though the latter’s cross was missed by Kodjia, Adomah pounced at the far post for his sixth goal of the season.

Johnstone, who may feel he should have done better with Johansen’s free-kick, then prevented Fulham from levelling again when he saved from Ayite at point blank range, after Ryan Fredericks had broken down the right fired in a cross which seemed certain to result in a goal.

Kodjia saw appeals for a penalty waved away after he tumbled when fighting for the ball in the box with Ayite, while a dangerous Adomah cross proved just out of Snodgrass’s reach.

Conor Hourihane drove wide of goal as the game entered the closing 15 minutes as Villa looked for the goal to seal the three points.

They almost found it when Ritchie De Laet, on as a substitute, arrived at the far post to meet Adomah’s cross but Button kept out his header with a superb one-handed save. It mattered not, as Villa won for the third straight home game.

Key Moments:

23 GOAL John Terry heads Villa in front from Conor Hourihane’s free-kick, his first goal for the club.

45 GOAL Stefan Johansen brings the visitors level, firing home a free-kick from the edge of the box.

49 GOAL Albert Adomah fires Villa back ahead with his sixth goal of the season. Jonathan Kodjia misses Josh Onomah’s cross but Adomah pounces at the far post.

Teams

Villa (4-1-4-1): Johnstone, Elmohamady, Chester, Terry (c), Hutton, Whelan, Snodgrass (De Laet 81), Onomah, Hourihane, Adomah (Bjarnason 86), Kodjia (Davis 73) Subs not used: Samba, Hogan, O’Hare, Steer (gk).

Fulham (4-3-3): Button, Fredericks, Ream, Kalas, Sessegnon, Norwood (Cairney 60), McDonald ©, Johansen (Cisse 73), Kamara, Fonte (Kebano 79), Ayite Subs not used: Odoi, Soares, Mollo, Bettinelli (gk).