Villa get first win in six games

Aston Villa 2 Fulham 0

Lee Hendrie produced another stunning strike to put seal Aston Villa’s first Premiership win in six games since late August.

Villa manager David O’Leary has admitted he is fed up with Hendrie being in the headlines for off- the-field incidents.

But the one-time England midfielder is currently attracting the right sort of publicity and with 14 minutes remaining he pulled back the trigger and beat Fulham keeper Edwin van der Sar with a superb curling effort.

It was Hendrie’s third goal in the last four league games after his previous long-range efforts against Crystal Palace and Arsenal.

Nolberto Solano’s free-kick opener had also been a quality effort and Villa were worthy winners against a Fulham side who look destined for a relegation fight unless they improve on this display.

The margin of victory for David O’Leary’s side would have been greater had Darius Vassell not spurned a couple of golden opportunities.

He deserves credit for continuing to look for opportunities but is clearly lacking in confidence in front of goal at present.

Apart from a brief second-half spell, Fulham barely posed a threat and they are still without a league win at Villa Park in 31 years.

Andy Cole, returning after a ban, was given short change by Olof Mellberg and man of the match Mark Delaney while Gavin McCann was quietly effective in midfield.

Vassell, in front of England coaching staff member Sammy Lee, had the first effort on goal after Juan Pablo Angel had turned the ball back into his path but he stumbled just as he was about to shoot and fired wide.

Vassell looked lively in the early stages but one burst of pace ended in disappointing fashion with a curling shot from 20 yards straight at van der Sar.

In the process the Villa striker accidentally caught Fulham defender Ian Pearce who hobbled out of the action to be replaced by Zeshan Rehman.

Moritz Volz became the first player to be booked after 16 minutes for cynically chopping down Villa midfielder McCann in full flight.

Vassell again found himself in space after Peter Whittingham slipped the ball into his path. It was a narrowish angle but the England striker should have done better when he screwed his shot so far across goal that it went out for a throw-in.

But after 29 minutes Villa went ahead with a superb strike from Solano – his first goal in the Premiership this season.

Fulham defender Papa Bouba Diop paid a heavy price for bringing down Hendrie 20 yards out on the edge of the penalty area ‘D’. Up stepped Solano and his free-kick curled into the roof of the net and contained too much power for van Der Sar although he did get a hand to the ball.

Vassell was making plenty of runs and having plenty of opportunities and a headed flick-on by Angel allowed him another run into the Fulham area.

But again his finishing was woeful as he screwed his low shot across the goalmouth when he should have at least tested van der Sar.

The closest Fulham came in the first half was when Steed Malbranque dragged his shot wide of Thomas Sorensen’s far post.

Angel continued to win more than his fair share of headers for the home side and he set up the best chance of the game for Vassell after 49 minutes when he turned a cross from Jlloyd Samuel into his path.

Vassell looked certain to score but his control let him down when six yards out and Fulham were able to scramble the ball clear.

Fulham came more into the game and appealed in vain for a penalty when Hendrie appeared to handle when he charged down a free-kick from Claus Jensen.

Jensen then took a pass from Pembridge on his left foot but produced an abysmal finish which ended high in the Holte End.

Vassell’s frustrating afternoon came to an end when he was taken off on a stretcher after 62 minutes following a challenge by Diop and was replaced by Carlton Cole.

Villa regained their poise and with 14 minutes remaining Hendrie’s goal finally gave the home side breathing space.

Boa Morte had a late chance to reduce the deficit but he over-ran the ball and Sorensen was able to save at his feet.