Youri Tielemans’ first-half header was enough to earn Aston Villa a 1-0 win over Fulham to keep alive their hopes of Champions League football next season.
Tielemans, the outstanding player on the Villa Park pitch, rose highest of all to power in John McGinn’s 12th-minute corner as Unai Emery’s side moved level on points with both Nottingham Forest and Chelsea ahead of their weekend matches.
Ollie Watkins spurned a great chance to double Villa’s lead at the start of the second half and ease home nerves, which only increased minutes later when Ryan Sessegnon’s volley flashed past Emi Martinez.
However, the goal was rightly ruled out as Sessegnon had clearly controlled the ball with his hand before finding the back of the net.
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Watch Paul Merson’s reaction to Ollie Watkins’ missed opportunity to double Aston Villa’s lead against Fulham
Villa then managed the second half expertly, helped by the visitors having to play the final 10 minutes with only 10 players after Harrison Reed was forced off with a calf problem having only just come on and Marco Silva having already used all his substitutes.
Ryan Sessegnon shoots into the net only for his effort to be ruled out following a VAR review
And despite sub Donyell Malen thumping the crossbar in injury time, Villa held on to get back to winning ways after successive losses in the league and FA Cup semi-final had threatened to derail their campaign, while Fulham’s already-slim chances of European football next season are now hanging by a thread.