Aston Villa 3-1 Fulham: Emery’s Men Fight Back to Claim First League Win and Escape Drop Zone
Aston Villa finally claimed their first Premier League win of the season, coming from behind to beat Fulham 3-1 at Villa Park in a fiery encounter filled with controversy, drama, and goals. Early pressure from Fulham paid off when Raul Jimenez opened the scoring just three minutes in with a well-taken header. But the striker was forced off injured shortly after, and the game quickly descended into a stop-start affair as the visitors twice appealed for penalties—first when Josh King went down under pressure, then when Matty Cash appeared to block a shot with his arm. Both claims were waved away, much to the frustration of Fulham boss Marco Silva, who was booked for his touchline protests. Despite a passive first half in which they failed to make a single tackle, Villa found their rhythm. A defensive error from Joachim Andersen gifted Ollie Watkins the opportunity to lob Bernd Leno and level the score before the break—his first goal of the season after a difficult start. Unai Emery’s team came out with renewed energy in the second half. John McGinn’s low drive into the corner gave Villa a 2-1 lead after a turnover in midfield, assisted by substitute Emiliano Buendia. The Argentine then added a third just minutes later—scoring and assisting in the same game for only the second time in his Premier League career. Fulham did threaten a response, notably when Emi Martinez’s fumble presented Sasa Lukic with a golden opportunity, only for Ezri Konsa to make a crucial goal-line clearance. In the end, it was a chaotic yet vital win for Villa—who also defeated Bologna in midweek—lifting them out of the relegation zone. Fulham, meanwhile, remain stuck on 10 points and slide toward mid-table, with Silva left fuming over the officiating.
