Sessegnon Sinks Lacklustre Aston Villa To Keep Fulham’s European Hopes Alive

When Unai Emery declared nan “Premier League is nan priority” contempt a looming Europa League semi-final, he could not person envisaged nan lifeless show his Aston Villa squad would nutrient astatine Craven Cottage.

Perhaps his players disagree pinch their manager’s penchant for home affairs, aliases possibly nan London outpouring sunshine proved excessively overmuch of a distraction from footballing matters. Either way, Villa departed Craven Cottage connected Saturday lunchtime pinch an emptiness afloat deserving of their minimal endeavours, having managed conscionable 1 changeable connected target each match.

It is not arsenic though Fulham were brilliant; fewer would reason Marco Silva’s broadside person specified powerfulness to rustle distant guidance teams. But nan hosts did what was required, pinch Ryan Sessegnon notching nan solitary extremity of a mostly forgettable game. Despite patchy form, Fulham are now conscionable 2 points disconnected sixth spot and firmly successful nan hunt for European qualification.

Before this fixture, Silva had admitted his goal-shy squad needed “some inspiration and creativity” successful ray of their caller scoring troubles, having grounded to find nan nett successful 5 of their erstwhile six matches. They had Villa to convey for aiding their origin here.

As soon arsenic nan tenth minute, aft Villa had been picked isolated for nan umpteenth occasion, Emi Martínez stood pinch shot successful manus and berated anyone successful claret and bluish who would listen.

A disappointment Unai Emery connected nan Craven Cottage touchline. Photograph: Matthew Childs/Action Images/Reuters

Fortunately for nan languid visitors, their hosts often lacked nan potency to connection due threat, mostly resembling a platoon hurling toothpicks whenever successful show of goal.

But, pinch 2 minutes remaining earlier half-time, they successfully navigated a way to goal. Sasa Lukic’s first header was parried by Martínez, but only arsenic acold arsenic Sessegnon, who momentarily composed himself earlier drilling done Ezra Konsa’s legs connected nan extremity line.

If Villa fans were hoping a half-time rollicking mightiness spark immoderate life into their side, they were quickly mistaken. A Lucas Digne correction allowed Harry Wilson to carnivore down connected Martínez untroubled, but he dawdled and dragged his changeable wide erstwhile a extremity looked nan astir apt scenario.

As Emery’s anger increased, truthful did nan urgency of his pacing astir nan method area. The points cushion beneath Villa is surely excessively awesome to spot them messiness up Champions League qualification for a 2nd successive season, but nan head has made it abundantly clear that he wants his squad to decorativeness arsenic precocious arsenic 3rd successful nan array for nan first clip since nan 1992/93 campaign. They will person to execute alternatively amended than this if they are to do so.

A marginal telephone denied Fulham a 2nd extremity conscionable aft nan hour, erstwhile Timothy Castagne’s slug header was chalked disconnected pinch nan referee, Michael Oliver, ruling that Sander Berge had unlawfully impeded Martínez successful nan process.

Seeking to spark immoderate life into his team, a quadruple substitution saw Emery switch almost his full midfield pinch 20 minutes remaining. Soon after, Tammy Abraham, a 5th summation from nan bench, carved immoderate abstraction only to occurrence wildly complete nan bar. It was a changeable emblematic of Villa’s afternoon.