Four years ago, when Fulham won their first promotion to the Premier League under Shahid Khan’s ownership, they ended John Terry’s career at Wembley as Tom Cairney’s goal took Slavisa Jokanovic’s side to victory over Aston Villa. Tonight, at Craven Cottage, they finished off another England captain’s association with the Villains as Steven Gerrard was dismissed from his managerial duties after Marco Silva’s side eased to a comfortable victory at Craven Cottage.
Bafflingly, Villa – who have won just two league games this season – were favourites with the bookmakers for this encounter. They never looked like securing the win that would have relieved the pressure on Gerrard, who glumly conceded his side were second best in a sombre post-match press conference. Like Liz Truss, the manager insisted he wasn’t a quitter only to be removed by the Villa in a terse statement after he had finished speaking. An angry fan base now has to hope that the Villa hierarchy can make the right appointment, with the side languishing above the relegation zone on goal difference.
Fulham were rampant almost from the off. Willian, who replaced Dan James in the only change from Saturday’s disappointing draw with Bournemouth, rolled back the years with a virtuoso display that belied his advancing years. The Brazilian played in the overlapping Antonee Robinson after a determined dribble by Bobby Decordova-Reid, but the American’s shot was blocked at source. The former Arsenal and Chelsea winger tested Emi Martinez’s reflexes with a low drive of his own, before Aleksandar Mitrovic headed a devilish Decordova-Reid cross over the bar. The Serbian went closer from a corner five minutes later, with Tyrone Mings hacking away the forward’s header from underneath the bar.
Andreas Pereira, who had twice gone close with speculative strikes, then drew a low save from Martinez before Willian also extended the goalkeeper after a fine run. Villa threatened sporadically but Danny Ings found himself too isolated from the rest of his team-mates to put a fragile Fulham defence under pressure. Bernd Leno flapped at a couple of crosses to increase the nerves, but the natives were becalmed by a brilliant strike from Harrison Reed. The energetic midfielder rattled in his second goal in a month from just outside the box after Martinez had failed to punch away a corner convincingly.
Gerrard sent on Matty Cash at half-time but the visitors seemed to have no answer for Fulham’s fluid football. Tyrone Mings bravely blocked a snapshot from Mitrovic at the end of a swift break, but Villa’s cause became almost hopeless when Douglas Luiz headbutted Fulham’s talisman and received a red card after a VAR review. Things went from bad to worse for Gerrard as Cash handled a goalbound effort from Mitrovic to concede a penalty, which squirmed under the unfortunate Martinez.
Ashley Yong and Ollie Wilkins went close for the ten men, before the defence caved in again. Mings, who Gerrard stripped of the captaincy this summer, get the final touch past his own goalkeeper after Neeskens Kebano had befuddled an all-at-sea Cash and fired a ball across the face of goal. Fulham were comfortable long before the end – with Silva introducing the prodigiously talented Luke Harris for his Premier League debut. Such a commanding win lifts the Whites into the top half of the table, if only for 48 hours.
FULHAM (4-2-3-1): Rodak; Decordova-Reid, A. Robinson, Diop, Ream; Palhinha, Reed (Cairney 73); Willian (James 73), Kebano (Wilson 85), Pereira (Harris 87); Mitrovic (Vinicius 85). Subs (not used): Rodak, Adarioboy, Duffy, Mbabu.
GOALS: Reed (36), Mitrovic (pen 68), Mings (o.g. 83).
ASTON VILLA (4-3-2-1): Martinez; Konsa, Young, Bednarek (Cash 45), Mings; J. Ramsey (Archer 81), McGinn; Bailey (Buenda 58), Watkins; Ings (Dendoncker 69). Subs (not used): Olsen, Chambers, Sanson, Nakamba, Coutinho.
BOOKED: Bailey, Mings.
REFEREE: Michael Oliver (Tyne and Weir)
ATTENDANCE: 23,508.
I’ll be honest – I was worried about this one after Villa’s performance against Chelsea and our inability to keep a clean sheet this season but, right from kick off, we totally dominated with so many of our players “up” for this one. Mitro looked much more comfortable than against Bournemouth and Palhinha was superb in midfield. But it was on the left-with Robinson and Willian tearing through the Villa defence time and time again, occasionally assisted by Kebano, that we really turned the screw.
Some of our interplay was nothing short of brilliant and it was only Martinez that prevented us from going in at half-time 3 or 4 goals in front. Leno had a few “iffy” moments for the first time since he came into the side to give Villa some hope.
Willian was class throughout, seemingly gliding fluently with the ball at his feet, stopping and changing direction in full flow, rarely failing to find a teammate. It reminded me of George Best during his short time at the Cottage.
For me, our first half performance was our best of the season.
We were fortunate with the penalty and the sending off and own goal but the margin did not flatter us in any way. We are a threat to any team at the Cottage. Let’s carry this level into the game against Leeds who were woeful against Leicester.
Overly verbose as ever…Corky looks for a pulpit when sentiments from ground level are more to the point.
Marco is Merlin as I have been saying for some time.
There is no absolute in football, just the quest for it and in moments it was in evidence this evening.
I doubted aspects of the team but Merlin, from time to time, has us acting as a team, fluid and as one, which is the stuff of victory in a team sport.
We looked great, ascendant even, in intent as a team with bits missing and fortune not favoring us recently.
I’m beginning to believe we can stay here and that’s brilliant.
It’s Corkery NOT Corky, you muppet!
And ground level is where you’ll end up if we ever come face to face!
Apologies! I shouldn’t have responded in the way I did.
I’m sure that Douglas didn’t deliberately mean to mis-spell my name and criticise me for being literate.
He will be pleased to know a) that I will never post my after match feelings on this site ever again and b) will not, should we ever cross paths, grind his face into the concrete.
Very good performance from the boys, thought AV would cause us some problems but were disappointing, especially as they were half reasonable against Chelsea. The pick of the bunch was the wide men, all of them played well and caused AV all night.
Happy with the clean sheet, we really do have great options at CB now, feel for Tosin, but he will get his chance.
Only concern for me is if Mitro gets injured, as shown already we cannot do without him, he is integral to our patterns of play and the wheels seem to come off when he does not play.
Willian was the buy of the decade, and he actually came for free. His running may have dipped a little from his best days but his ability on the ball is second to none. COYW
I saw Willian playing for a Turkish side against Chelsea in the Champions league prior to his move to Chelsea. Chelsea had an unbelievable team at the time but Willian stood out head and shoulders as the best player on the pitch.
Only worry was going to be reigniting his enthusiasm. Silva has done a great job.
Fantastic addition.
Forget the football (which we were outstanding at and fully deserved to win). I’d like to comment on the spirit in the team. Its so obvious the boys are all together and behind each other. The spirit is outstanding and that has to be Silva. With our ability and spirit we’ll be fine. Fully confident in where we are going. COYW
Corky showing your true colours…..
Thought we were good throughout the team I was a bit worried at first but Attitude and Ability started showing we were miles better than them I have just got to mention Willian with Sublime touches and running with the ball and ability to play the right pass I watched him throughout I think he did just one bad pass, good to see Diop showing good strength maybe Diop with Tosin is the future who knows we must take this performance to Leeds and maybe another three points COYW
Wiilian was brillant.The first half performance was fantastic. Robinson has improved above all expectations. Who would have thought Bobby Decodova Reed could fill in at right back.We have a great team spirit. It was nice to see Luke Harris get on the pitch for a cameo. My only concern is taking the team we put oiut today is th lack of back up in certain areas. Both Full backs, a holding mid field player and another striker if Mitro is injured we have a probem. We have Wilson, Tete and maybe Soloman to come back. Also a lot of dead wood. Another performance like that against Leeds should see us coming home with at least a point maybe three. At leasr James will not be involved, I can see why Leeds did not rate him
The boys were amazing, fought with soul!!! MVP Willian, Reed is at is level again, Palhinha is a force of nature and Mitro is starting to shine again. Jedi is a new person!!
Dispite our good performance, finally the lucky stars were on our side today!!! The sent off, and the penalti, we were lucky the keeper didn’t defend that one.
What a nice football night!!
COYW!!!
A great performance all round. Mitro is obviously not back to full fitness but where would we do without him . His deputy Vinicius has shown nothing. Willian add a real touch of class and for me he was MOM. Decordova Reed as n Emergency full back has exceeded expectations. Ream had another good match. Robinson down the left hand side with his pace has improved beyond all recognition since last season. One small query why did James, who looks a poor loan signing, come on in place of Wilson who needs the game time, brilliant for Luke Harris to come on the pitch for a few minutes at the end of the match. If all players are fit I would keep the same team for Leeds , except with the possibility of bringing in Tete, i but would then I would play D- Reed in place of Kebano who performs better at the Cottage. Finally Diop is starting to look a lot better and is an added advantage at corners at both ends of the pitch
do you think the Villa bus gave Gerrard a lift home?