It is seven years now since Fulham passed on the chance to sign Ollie Watkins when he was a promising forward at Exeter City – and the former Brentford striker came back to haunt the Whites with a ruthless double that put Aston Villa back on the road to Champions’ League football at Craven Cottage this afternoon. The England international made light of having an early goal disallowed to score either side of half time to help Unai Emery’s side return to winning ways in south west London, although Marco Silva’s charges pushed them all the way having been reinvigorated by the latest manifestation of Rodrigo Muniz’s predatory instincts.

Fulham were good value for a point but paid the penalty for failing to take good chances after Muniz poked home his fourth goal in three games having beaten Emiliano Martinez to Antonee Robinson’s cross after the American international latched onto a lofted ball down the left flank from Tom Cairney. The Argentinian World Cup winner made amends to make sensational stops to thwart Alex Iwobi at the near post and deny former Villa winger Adama Traore at the start of stoppage time.

The home side took a while to get into their stride with Villa almost making the perfect start when Watkins raced onto a through ball from Leon Bailey to tuck an assured finish beyond the advancing Bernd Leno, only for an offside flag to belatedly confirm he had sneaked too far ahead of Tim Ream and Timothy Castagne. Fulham threatened from the free-kick, which led to a corner where Muniz climbed highest at the near post only to head wide of goal.

Muniz fashioned his first sight of goal with a beautiful bit of chest control that was swiftly followed by a powerful half volley that flew wide before a rasping drive drifted just over the crossbar after he had beaten Clement Lenglet to a through ball from Andreas Pereira. The home side then had a goal of their own chalked off when Tim Ream’s instinctive finish from a well-worked free-kick was disallowed for offside against Joao Palhinha, before the Whites handed Watkins the opening goal when a ridiculous throw-in from Robinson was seized upon by Jacob Ramsey. The industrious midfielder sauntered away from Willian and slipped a pass through to Watkins, who turned into the penalty area, and placed a precise shot into the bottom corner of the net.

Fulham were already infuriated with the laissez-faire refereeing of Lewis Smith, at 30 the youngest top flight official since Michael Oliver in 2010, before he waved play on when Joao Palhinha was crumbled in a heap following a robust challenge. Villa almost made the most of a lack of a whistle as Bailey burst away from Robinson and bent a brilliant long-range effort onto the top of Leno’s crossbar. Willian was far from his useful effervescent self on the Fulham left – and was replaced at half-time – but the Brazilian did supply a floated cross that Muniz nodded into the arms of Martinez ten minutes before the interval.

There was another lengthy VAR check after Alex Moreno had headed home a corner at the far post, but the Villa left back’s joyous celebrations in front of the Hammersmith End were cut short as he was adjudged offside. Fulham pushed for a leveller before the end of the first half but Muniz headed a corner past the far post having soared impressively above the Villa defence. The hosts were fortunate some sloppy defending wasn’t punished by a second goal in stoppage time when Watkins turned provider for Youri TIelemens with Leno spreading himself to thwart the former Leicester midfielder.

Iwobi immediately added energy to Fulham’s forward line by replacing Willian at the start of the second half and set up Bobby De Cordova-Reid with a clever touch, but the home side’s bright start after the resumption counted for little once Diop dallied on the ball and was ruthlessly punished by Watkins who sped onto a sharp pass from Tielemens to fire past a stranded Leno.

Fulham could have folded but they fought until the end. Their commitment was typified by the way Muniz provided a lifeline as he nipped in ahead of Martinez to prod Robinson’s improvised cross into an unguarded net – and Silva’s side might easily have completed the comeback. The Brazilian centre forward had a shot blocked before Harry Wilson rifled a volley fractionally over the bar from a clever Pereira free-kick. Muniz was incensed when his deflected shot flew wide of the goal and referee Smith awarded a goal kick, with the home side’s late pressure forcing Martinez to demonstrate his world class status with instinctive stops to deny Iwobi and then Traore as Villa held on for a pressure three points.

FULHAM (4-2-3-1): Leno; Castagne, A. Robinson, Diop, Ream (Bassey 75); Palhinha (Lukic 89), Cairney; De Cordova-Reid (Wilson 64), Willian (Iwobi 45), Pereira (Traore 75); Muniz. Subs (not used): Rodak, Ballo-Toure, Adarabioyo, Reed.

BOOKED: Palhina, Castagne, Lukic, Traore, Wilson.

GOAL: Muniz (63).

ASTON VILLA (4-2-3-1): Martinez; Cash, Moreno (Digne 81), Torres, Lenglet; Luiz, Tielemens (Iroegbunam 90); Bailey (Diaby 81), Ramsey, McGinn; Watkins. Subs (not used): Olsen, Gauchy, Chambers, Kesler-Hayden, Zaniolo.

BOOKED: McGinn, Moreno.

GOALS: Watkins (23, 56).

REFEREE: Lewis Smith (Wigan).

ATTENDANCE: 24,401