Rodallega fires Fulham to crucial victory

By

Aston Villa 1 Fulham 2

Hugo Rodallega’s late winner earned Fulham their first away win since Boxing Day and lifted them off the bottom of the Premier League.

Kieran Richardson broke the deadlock just after the hour mark when he unleashed a shot from 20 yards out which flew into the top corner.

Fulham’s lead lasted just 10 minutes as Grant Holt headed home from a poorly-defended corner, before Fulham were denied by a spectacular goalline block from Aston Villa’s Matt Lowton.

However, Felix Magath’s men battled on and Rodallega’s glancing header from Lewis Holtby’s cross secured the Whites a vital three points in their battle to stay up.

Magath once again rang the changes after last Sunday’s defeat to Everton, with Fernando Amorebieta returning to defence, Cauley Woodrow replacing Moussa Dembele up front and Mahamadou Diarra making his first appearance in 16 months.

Woodrow started brightly, heading over from Pajtim Kasami’s cross, but neither goalkeeper was tested in a dire first half hour until David Stockdale kept out Leandro Bacuna’s low drive.

Some sloppy Villa defending presented Woodrow with a chance and he slipped into the penalty area before producing a save from Brad Guzan from a tight angle.

Guzan then collected efforts from distance from Holtby and Steve Sidwell as Fulham ended the first half strongly.

Stockdale again denied Bacuna shortly after the break, diverting an effort on to the post before Richardson’s moment of magic lit up an otherwise low-quality match.

Ashkan Dejagah, who had come on at half-time, moved in from the right and slid the ball across the box into the path of Richardson, who thumped the ball beyond the grasp of Guzan.

Villa’s equaliser wasn’t long in coming. Marc Albrighton floated in a corner and Holt – on-loan from Wigan – nodded down past Stockdale.

Fulham thought they were heading back in front a few minutes later as Rodallega’s pass found its way through to Holtby, who sidestepped Guzan only to see his shot blocked right on the line by Lowton. TV virtual replays showed the ball to be millimetres away from crossing the line.

Stockdale produced a fine save to keep out Aleksandar Tonev’s curling effort – and that proved to be crucial as Rodallega nodded home for his first Premier League goal since last January and provide a shot in the arm to Fulham’s hopes of survival.

Fulham (4-2-3-1): Stockdale; Heitinga (Riise 82), Hangeland, Amorebieta, Richardson; Diarra, Riether; Kasami (Dejagah 46), Sidwell, Holtby; Woodrow (Rodallega 46).
Subs not used: Stekelenburg, Kvist, Kacaniklic, Roberts.

Follow West London Sport on Twitter
Find us on Facebook