Fulham 3 Villa 1 - analysis

It's not so long since this promised to be a champagne-soaked season where records tumbled - now its end cannot come soon enough.

Just a few months ago a place in the Champions League looked on the cards for this Villa team and, incredibly, it was only around Christmas that boss Martin O'Neill was fielding questions over whether his team could win the Premier League title.

"You haven't been drinking, have you?" was his now infamous response to that particular query and, on recent evidence, his down-playing was well placed.

Back then they were sat in third – their highest position on December 25 since topping the table under John Gregory 10 years ago.

At one stage their record bettered that of the 1981 title winners. But now they actually have a point less than at the same stage last term.

Last Monday's win over Hull proved a false dawn as the claret and blues deservedly slumped to defeat in the capital.

The question now is can they hang onto fifth?

That is all they have still to play for and at least partly explained why Fulham, who still hope to join Villa in the Europa League, seemed more up for it – in the second half anyway.

O'Neill's men will have to face the exact same situation in their final two games with Middlesbrough and Newcastle, who are both fighting for their lives at the bottom.

They will have to do better if the season is to end on a high note.

While Fulham's football was full of finesse, there was a steel to their game too. They were bigger, faster and stronger.

Clint Dempsey and Danny Murphy both tigerishly snapped at claret and blue heels, giving Villa no time to settle on the ball. And it worked.

Villa's passing was uncharacteristically poor. They were harried into errors. Even Gareth Barry looked off his game, caught in possession and giving the ball away cheaply on a couple of occasions.

It might be only one game a week now, rather than the overseas adventures which punctuated the first half of the campaign, but that mid-July start for the Intertoto Cup really looks to have taken its toll.

It doesn't take a genius to work out Villa's squad, the smallest in the Premier League, is desperately in need of reinforcements this summer if a repeat is to be avoided next term.

James Milner and Gabby Agbonlahor both look set to spend their summers at the European Under-21 Championships, which ends shortly before Villa are set to return for pre-season.

O'Neill has already admitted that burnout is a concern for two of his young stars, but even more worrying is the prospect of kicking off next season without arguably his two best players.

It seems only a matter of time before Martin Laursen announces his retirement – even if he decides to play on an operation would rule him out for the majority of next season.

Then there is Gareth Barry. If Liverpool or any of the rest of the big four come up with the money this time around then this time his departure is certain.

It potentially leaves Villa starting the summer on the back foot in the transfer market.

Manchester City's millions, the rapid strides Tottenham are making under Harry Redknapp and the progress ongoing at Everton will ensure next season is even tougher.

With doubts still hanging over the size of O'Neill's transfer kitty, it would be no surprise if he decides to wheel and deal this summer, which could make for a few surprise departures.

Two new centre-backs, a first-rate midfielder should Barry depart, cover on the wing and a goalscorer would be the ideal scenario.

But whether Randy Lerner's purse strings will quite stretch that far this time remains to be seen.

This latest sub-standard showing merely reiterated investment is very much required.

Villa started sluggishly and, having seen Erik Nevland already come close with a diving header, they found themselves behind by the sixth minute.

James Milner clumsily bundled over Diomansy Kamara inside the box and, given the ex-Albion hitman had only Brad Friedel to beat, the Villa winger could count himself fortunate to escape without sanction.

Murphy confident slotted home the penalty and yet again Villa were off to a bad start. But the response was swift - by the 14th minute they were level.

Milner atoned for his earlier error, swinging in a pinpoint centre to the back post which was converted by Ashley Young for his second goal in three games.

The game turned into a real humdinger and while Villa gave as good as they got going forward, they never convinced defensively.

They held on until the half-time whistle but no sooner had the second period kicked off they were behind.

Luke Young's attempts to dispossess Dempsey ended in him diverting the ball into Kamara's path and he arrowed a low shot into the left corner – with a little help from a deflection off former Baggies team-mate Curtis Davies.

Villa never quite recovered and their lacklustre second-half display was among their worst of the campaign.

Fulham made their dominance count on the hour mark when Brede Hangeland outjumped Zat Knight to meet Murphy's corner and his header was backheeled home from close range by Kamara.

The final half hour was painful viewing for the travelling faithful as they constantly gave possession away.

O'Neill reacted on 64 minutes by making a double substitution, bringing off full-backs for Nigel Reo-Coker and Emile Heskey.

The change prompted a petulant response from Nicky Shorey who trudged slowly from the field – much to the frustration of those on the bench.

The left-back has been widely tipped to leave this summer despite forcing his way back into the first team recently. That may have been the final nail in his coffin.

Villa never looked like making any inroads into the scoreline and only the heroics of Brad Friedel kept the score down, with the American racing off his line to save superbly from Bobby Zamora at the death.

Fulham (4-4-2): Schwarzer; Pantsil, Hughes, Hangeland, Konchesky; Gera, Murphy, Etuhu (Dacourt 89), Dempsey (Gray 85); Kamara, Nevland (Zamora 83).

Subs Not Used: Zuberbuhler, Stoor, Baird, Smalling.

Booked: Murphy.

Villa (4-4-2): Friedel; L Young (Heskey 64), Knight, Davies, Shorey (Reo-Coker 64); Milner, Petrov, Barry, A Young; Carew, Agbonlahor.

Subs Not Used: Guzan, Sidwell, Delfouneso, Gardner, Clark.

Attendance: 25,660.

By Brendan McLoughlin