Fulham 1-0 Aston Villa

Aston Villa fell to a first defeat in seven on the road on Saturday afternoon, losing 1-0 to Fulham at Craven Cottage.

Having created the better of the first-half opportunities in the capital, Unai Emery’s men fell behind shortly before half-time when Ryan Sessegnon buried a rebound after Emi Martínez had done well to initially keep out Saša Lukić’s header.

And, despite both Ollie Watkins and Tammy Abraham having sights at goal after the break, an equaliser eluded the Villans, whose six-game unbeaten run came to an end on the bank of the River Thames in the Premier League’s early kick-off.

Emery made four changes to his starting 11 which dramatically defeated Sunderland in stoppage time at Villa Park last Sunday. Lamare Bogarde was handed a start in midfield, with Emi Buendía, Pau Torres and Lucas Digne all coming back into the side, and Martínez making his 250th appearance for the club between the sticks.

In the West London sun, it was the hosts who started the brighter at the Cottage, with Pau well positioned early on to cut out a cross from Samuel Chukwueze, with white shirts lurking in the centre.

Despite this, the Villans carried a threat of their own, Buendía firing the visitors’ first sighter wide from distance seven minutes in, before Watkins drilled into the arms of Bernd Leno from the edge of the area four minutes later.

The encounter opened up into an intriguing tactical affair, with clear-cut chances few and far between throughout the opening period. But 10 minutes before the break, the away side were back on the offensive and looking to take a lead into half-time, creating their best opening of the first 45 when Morgan Rogers brought down John McGinn’s long ball forward and cut inside, but could only drag his effort wide of Leno’s post.

A minute later, Villa were in again, as Watkins did well to hold off Joachim Andersen, turn away from the Fulham captain and get a shot away, rolling narrowly wide of the far post.

But with half-time looming, it was Marco Silva’s side who took a lead which saw them enter the interval ahead. Martínez did well to beat away Lukić’s powerful effort after a cross had been swung onto his head, but could do nothing to deny Sessegnon’s follow-up, as he found the back of the net.

And having ended the opening period the stronger, it was the hosts who made a fast start to the second half, too. Within three minutes of the restart, Harry Wilson got the better of Lucas Digne but, after cutting onto his left foot, could only turn his effort wide.

But again, Villa grew into the second period, and on the hour mark, McGinn found Watkins who was able to get a shot away in behind, but lashed his half-volley over Leno’s crossbar.

Five minutes later, the Villans survived a scare as Fulham thought they had doubled their advantage when Timothy Castagne headed home Lukić’s corner at the far post, but the referee’s whistle sounded for a foul in Villa’s favour, with Sander Berge adjudged to have infringed upon Martínez.

Emery shuffled his pack with a little over 15 minutes remaining, introducing Jadon Sancho, Leon Bailey, Ross Barkley and Douglas Luiz from the bench in an attempt to dig out an equalising goal.

And the Villa boss’ fifth and final substitute, Abraham, created a brilliant opening for himself seven minutes from time. Last weekend’s hero danced away from two Fulham defenders to work room for a shot, but miscued his effort and saw it sail over the crossbar.

The Villans threw bodies forward with the game entering its closing stages as they desperately sought out a leveller, but Silva’s side clung onto their lead to condemn their visitors to defeat, ahead of Thursday’s UEFA Europa League semi-final first leg away at Nottingham Forest (ko 8pm).