Marks out of ten after Fulham registered a massive win over Aston Villa in the Craven Cottage sunshine ..

Marcus Bettinelli: It was a measure of just how much Fulham were in control that the goalkeeper had little to do but field a pair of shots from Robert Snodgrass in the second half. Bettinelli wasn’t overly tested but also helped set the tone for a far more searching examination of the Aston Villa defence in the second period when a brilliant throw released Ryan Sessegnon for a lightning quick break. He distributed the ball well after a slightly shaky start and deserves credit for another clean sheet against one of the league’s in-form sides. 7

Ryan Fredericks: The Fulham right back in full flight is some sight. He cut a frustrated figure during the first half as he wasn’t given the ball often enough to test out the ageing Alan Hutton. The second period was something else entirely as the full back flew down the right at will and became Fulham’s most likely source of an opening. Made the opening goal with a superb burst into the box and a clever cut back for Sessegnon, which proved to be the game’s turning point. 8

Matt Targett: As solid as ever in terms of a defensive display, Targett picked up from where he left off at Bolton last weekend by registering Fulham’s first effort at goal with a strike from just outside the box that arrowed wide. With Sessegnon nullified for much of the first half, the home side’s early threat down the left came from the Southampton loanee, who then kept Robert Snodgrass impressively quiet in the second 45 minutes. 7

Tomas Kalas: The Czech centre back delivered a dominant defensive display on John Terry’s return to west London that perhaps carried more significance than many might have realised. Kalas has previously described the Villa centre back as one of his mentors in football – and he displayed the kind of commanding characteristics that underlined his impressive first campaign at Craven Cottage, whilst keeping Scott Hogan very quiet indeed. 7

Tim Ream: The American continued his fine season with another nerveless performance at the heart of a Fulham defence that never looked unduly troubled this afternoon. He felt emboldened enough to advance forward from the back on a couple of occasions and distributed the ball with the kind of confidence that we have come to expect. Oozed class and deserves great credit for forcing Steve Bruce to thrown on more forwards in a desperate attempt to enliven a laboured Villa performance. 7

Kevin McDonald: McDonald has been lauded as a leader of this team whilst Tom Cairney has been missing from Fulham’s midfield – and the Scottish midfielder’s display showed exactly why. He was organising and cajoling his team-mates from the off, ensuring they knew exactly where they had to be in a disciplined defensive showing, whilst reading the game as expertly as ever. Conclusively won the holding midfield battle by keeping Conor Hourihane quiet and might have crowned an excellent display with a third on the break, but slipped at the vital moment. 7

Stefan Johansen: Energy and endeavour from the Norwegian, who buzzed around busily from the outset. Harried Villa’s most offensive operators throughout and kept up a frantic pace until he was replaced in the first minute of added time by Denis Odoi. Seems to have shaken off the groin problem that dogged his efforts earlier in the season and could have broken the deadlock early in the second half had Ryan Sessegnon’s pass after a speedy break carried more power. 7

Tom Cairney: So pleasing to see Cairney back at the heart of the Fulham midfield. Slavisa Jokanovic’s side look a far classier proposition with the Scot spraying passes around and maintaining the sort of tempo that makes opponents wilt. Began a number of promising attacks and began more influential as the match went on, gradually pushing Villa backwards, and you sense that Fulham’s success this season will depend on how often he can feature in midfield. 7

Floyd Ayite: An excellent return to the starting line-up for the lively Togolese winger, who was preferred to Lucas Piazon on the right by Slavisa Jokanovic. Ayite’s pace and decision making in the final third troubled Villa from the outset and he dovetailed well with Ryan Fredericks down the right. Played a crucial part in starting the move that led to Sessegnon’s opener and then kept his cool to chip home from the centre circle after Sam Johnstone’s free-kick picked him out perfectly. 8

Ryan Sessegnon: A quiet first half was forgotten once Sessegnon put Fulham ahead seven minutes after the break. The goal displayed the teenager’s incredible poaching instinct once again as he improvised a fine finish from Fredericks’ cut-back to find the far corner that Johnstone had left a little exposed. He struggled initially against Axel Tuanzebe but was posed Villa real problems after the break – surging deep into the visitors’ territory from a fine Bettinelli throw-out, but – unusually – couldn’t find the final ball on that occasion. 8

Aleksandar Mitrovic: The Serbian striker rewarded Jokanovic’s faith with an imposing display up front on his first Fulham start. Mitrovic utterly bullied both John Terry and James Chester at the heart of the Villa defence, winning the physical battle hands down, and showed a fine first touch as he held the ball up well and brought his team-mates into play. Might have scored with a couple of headers – with Johnstone producing a brilliant stop in the second half – but showed enough to suggest the goals will come. 7

Substitutes:

Aboubakar Kamara (on for Aleksandar Mitrovic 79): Like at the Macron Stadium, the French forward could have scored with his first touch after a lovely link-up with Floyd Ayite but snatched at the chance. This miss wasn’t half as damaging as the one at Bolton and the fact that Kamara even got into that position owed so much to his remarkable improvement as a footballer since arriving at Fulham back in August. 7

Lucas Piazon (on for Floyd Ayite 88): The briefest of cameos for the on-loan Chelsea winger, who will still have an integral part to play in Fulham’s promotion push. 6

Denis Odoi (on for Stefan Johansen 90+1): The Belgian defender came on at the death after Stefan Johansen had run himself into the ground to help Fulham play out time. 6