Fulham 3 Villa 1 - verdict
Villa's hopes of finishing fifth in the Premier League were dealt a blow as they crashed to a 3-1 defeat to Fulham at Craven Cottage.
Ashley Young cancelled out Danny Murphy's early penalty to leave the side level at half-time, but a second half brace from former Albion striker Diomansy Kamara ensured Roy Hodgson's side took all three points.
Martin O'Neill's side have now won just one of their last 14 games in all competitions and this disappointing performance was among their poorest of the entire 2008/09 campaign.
With their place in the Europa League now assured, Villa looked guilty of taking their foot off the gas against a Fulham side who boosted their hopes of joining them in Europe next season.
The Cottagers took a sixth minute lead, when Murphy coolly slotted home from the spot after James Milner had fouled Kamara inside the penalty area.
But the Claret and Blues were level within eight minutes, when winger Ashley Young met Gabby Agbonlahor's cross from the right at the far post.
Fulham had the better of the first half from there on in but the scores remained level until the break.
But the home side were back in front within a minute of the re-start.
Luke Young could only clear into the path of Kamara and he drilled a low shot into the left-hand corner beyond Friedel, albeit with the aid of a deflection off Villa defender Curtis Davies.
A bad afternoon got worse on the hour, when Brede Hangeland headed on Murphy's outswinging corner and Kamara was there to cheekily back-heel the ball home.
