Fulham 0, Aston Villa 2: Full Time Report
Aston Villa powered back into contention for fourth place in the Barclays Premier League after Gabriel Agbonlahor routed Fulham at Craven Cottage.
Agbonlahor struck both goals in four first-half minutes, taking advantage of poor defending from Chris Smalling and Brede Hangeland to inflict a fifth successive league defeat on Roy Hodgson's side.
Hesitating under pressure, Manchester United-bound centre-back Smalling allowed himself to be outjumped for the first as Agbonlahor rose high to nod home.
Sir Alex Ferguson, watching from the stands ahead of next month's Carling Cup final against Villa, would not have been impressed by the lapse in concentration from the 20-year-old who will join United at the end of the season after completing a £7million transfer this week.
Hangeland was culpable for the second after being turned far too easily by Agbonlahor, who produced an impressive finish to leave Fulham reeling at half time.
The two-goal haul will be welcomed by Agbonlahor and Villa manager Martin O'Neill following concerns the club's leading scoring had been suffering from a crisis in confidence.
The England marksman started the day with 10 strikes this season, yet the last time he had scored in the Premier league was against United on December 10.
More crucially for Villa, who named an unchanged side following the goalless draw with Arsenal, the brace ended their four-match winless run that was in danger of seeing them fade in the race for a top-four finish.
There was little of the long-ball football Arsene Wenger had complained of in midweek, just a comfortable and clinical victory over a team in freefall.
Out-of-form Fulham were unbeaten at Craven Cottage since September before today and must cast their minds back to their 3-0 drubbing of Manchester United six weeks ago for their last Premier League triumph.
