Run over as wheels come off Aston Villa's bus - Match analysis

Goals from Steve Sidwell and the irrepressible Dimitar Berbatov issued them with a stark warning as well as ending the Cottagers' worrying losing streak.

Despite their position in the top 10, consistent performances have been hard to find – even if Villa have picked up results.

Earlier displays have been masked by results but yesterday Villa had nowhere to hide. It is a results business – and Villa have done well to grind them out – but they cannot claim to have brought excitement and fluidity with them.

• See more pictures from Villa's defeat to Fulham here

• Fulham 2 Villa 0 - Vote for your Star of the match

They can point to unrewarded penalty claims after Sascha Riether's handball and Aaron Hughes' tackle on Gabby Agbonlahor but those decisions should not conceal a poor display.

It would be a stretch and a disservice to say they are lucky – the work ethic and spirit has won them points – but more is needed. Fulham, now just six points behind Villa, had more appetite for the fight with Berbatov the chief tormentor.

The Bulgarian made it look so easy compared to Christian Benteke, who returned after Libor Kozak's toe injury.

It was the chance for the Belgian to re-establish himself at the heart of Villa's strikeforce but it is now nine games without a goal after another blank day.

Maarten Stekelenburg denied him at the death but his threat was nullified by Villa's laboured attacks as much as Fulham's new-found resilience. Chris Herd also came in from the cold to highlight Villa's defensive problems without Antonio Luna and Ron Vlaar, the defender's last game coming in the New Year's Day draw at Swansea.

There will be little money to spend in January, a time where Lambert likes to keep his power dry, but Villa would do well to invest in cover for their much-improved backline.

It is a dangerous tactic to go into the second half of the season without reinforcements. If they lose another body, on top of Vlaar and Luna – with Jores Okore sidelined for the season – trouble looms.

Herd is likely to get another chance against Manchester United when the stuttering champions limp to Villa Park on Sunday with Vlaar's calf injury a worry.

But Villa will be without the suspended Fabian Delph after his fifth booking of the season, which compounded their woes yesterday. They were well beaten with warning signs from the start as Ciaran Clark escaped after shoving Berbatov in the area and then Brad Guzan turned the Bulgarian's header onto the bar early on.

Despite their woeful form, the Cottagers asserted themselves well as Villa failed to handle their lively hosts. But their soft underbelly was evident when Riether missed a long ball and Benteke flashed a header wide from Agbonlahor's cross.

Ashkan Dejagah was thwarted and, when the ball fell to Kacaniklic, Baker hacked off the line. Fulham's pressure told in the 21st minute when ex-Villan Sidwell reacted quicker to Dejagah's through-ball, outmuscled Bacuna and squeezed a shot past Guzan from the angle.

Villa wanted a penalty eight minutes later when Riether seemed to handle in the area but within 60 seconds the hosts doubled their lead from the spot.

Kacaniklic burst on a long clearance from Villa's corner, only for Bacuna to clumsily bring him down in the area and Berbatov calmly converted.

Villa had little answer, despite Delph's low shot skidding wide, with Berbatov at his nonchalant best.

The striker glided through the game, hardly looking like he was breaking sweat but still pulling the strings. He forced Guzan into a smart stop after linking with Sidwell as Bacuna was again left trailing.

Bacuna, who has swiftly adapted to the Premier League, struggled to contain the Fulham threat and had one of his most chastening experiences in England.

The marauding Berbatov caused consternation in Villa's defence every time he got the ball and he was central to their play in the second half.

Guzan saved from Philippe Senderos before John Arne Riise's header hit the post after the keeper lost Berbatov's cross.

Giorgos Karagounis went close and Herd hacked off the line after his clearance bounced back of Clark as Villa struggled. There was little rhythm to their play when they did have the ball and Weimann and Westwood tackled each other when they did find an opening.

Agbonlahor wanted a penalty when he went down under pressure from Hughes but, again, Mike Dean ignored Villa's pleas. Stekelenburg was finally tested by Benteke's 20-yarder in injury time but it was too little too late.

It was a wake-up call Villa must heed.

Nick Mashiter