Baird scores late winner for Fulham

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Fulham 1 Aston Villa 0

Chris Baird was the unlikely hero with a dramatic late winner for Fulham – only his third goal for the club.

The Northern Ireland defender, making the 200th appearance of his league career, touched home John Arne Riise’s corner at the near post with five minutes to go to settle an otherwise uneventful game.

Villa could have snatched a point almost immediately but £7m striker Christian Benteke skewed wide when well placed.

Fulham’s early fluency unsettled a Villa side who had not won in 12 away games.

Dimitar Berbatov and Kieran Richardson saw close-range efforts blocked by Villa keeper Brad Guzan, while Mladen Petric nodded wide from Berbatov’s inviting cross.

An initially timid Villa came out of their shell as the first half wore on.

But their attacking efforts were limited to Gabriel Agbonlahor’s deflected effort, fielded by keeper Mark Schwarzer, and a firmly struck Brett Holman shot which fizzed wide.

Substitute Ashkan Dejagah almost marked his Fulham debut with a goal but Guzan tipped his effort over the bar.

Just as it looked as though Fulham would be frustrated by a disciplined Villa defence, Baird flicked Riise’s corner past Guzan to snatch the points.

Fulham (4-4-2): Schwarzer; Riether, Hughes, Hangeland, Riise; Rodallega, Baird, Sidwell (Karagounis 84), Richardson (Dejagah 70); Petric (Diarra 64), Berbatov.
Subs not used: Stockdale, Senderos, Kasami, Kacaniklic.

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