FA Cup: Fulham 2 Aston Villa 1 - Report and pictures
Villa exited the FA Cup at the third round stage for the fourth season running as they were beaten at Championship Fulham.
Substitute Harry Arter’s stunning 74th minute strike ultimately proved the difference in a match with sprang to life in the second half.
Anthony Knockaert opened the scoring with a curling 25 yard effort nine minutes after the restart.
Anwar El Ghazi then levelled for Villa before Arter won it with just his second touch after coming off the bench.
Analysis
This was the first time the teams had met since the 2018 play-off final but on this occasion there was nowhere near so much at stake and it showed during a first half where neither got out of first gear.
The second period was far better, sparked by Knockaert’s stunning opener. After El Ghazi drew Villa level, pinching Jonathan Kodjia’s goal on the line, it was Dean Smith’s visitors who were briefly in ascendency.
But Arter’s superb winner, less than two minutes after coming on, eventually proved the winner.
This was another dire day for Villa in the FA Cup but in truth the competition falls a long way down their list of priorities, a fact which was summed up by Jack Grealish not even being included in the matchday squad.
Smith also chose to introduce youngsters Jacob Ramsey and Indiana Vassilev while his team chased the match late on.
There were, however, a number of disappointing performances from several fringe players, while the club’s desperate need to sign a striker in the wake of Wesley’s season-ending injury was summed up by Kodjia’s latest inconsistent performance.
Villa’s team was, as expected, much changed from the one that won 2-1 at Burnley on New Year’s Day.
There were nine in total, with Neil Taylor and Marvelous Nakamba the only players to keep their place.
James Chester captained the team on just his second appearance of the season, while the likes of Grealish and Tyrone Mings were not involved at all.
Smith’s decision to prioritise resting players also meant Villa switched back to a four-man defence.
Fulham’s team included Josh Onomah, who played for Villa against the Cottagers at Wembley while on loan from Tottenham.
The home XI also featured Joe Bryan, who came within a whisker of signing for Villa in the season of 2018.
He required treatment early on after being caught late by Marvelous Nakamba, a challenge which earned the Zimbabwe international a booking.
Otherwise, it was pedestrian fare. Kodjia fired over while well placed on the turn, while El Ghazi drilled an effort which briefly had home keeper Marek Rodek concerned before flying wide of the post.
In the final seconds of the half the same two Villa players combined to create the only real moment of excitement prior to the break.
Kodjia showed great strength to roll his marker and play in El Ghazi, who from 12 yards out saw his finish superbly saved by Rodak diving to his left.
Knockaert registered Fulham’s first serious effort on goal seconds after the break when he cut in from the right and fired just wide of the far post.
It was a warning Villa failed to heed as nine minutes later, the Frenchman out the hosts ahead. This time this was nothing wrong with his aim as he curled an unstoppable effort into the top corner beyond the helpless Orjan Nyland.
Villa’s keeper then kept his team in the tie when he saved from Bryan barely a minute after the restart and it proved a key moment as the visitors then drew level through El Ghazi.
Jota, until then quiet, was the creator, lifting a ball over the back line for Kodjia to chase. The striker sent a lobbed finish over the advancing Rodak with El Ghazi making sure when he volleyed in just inches from the line.
Suddenly it was Villa on top and Rodak needed to be alert soon after to push Jota’s drive wide.
But Fulham were the team who would score next, thanks to another stunning long range strike.
Arter’s first touch off the bench saw him control the ball 30 yards out, while the second saw him hit a vicious strike which curved and dipped and eventually crashed in off the bar.
Key Moments
54 - GOAL - Anthony Knockaert opens the scoring with a strike completely out of keeping with the quality of the game. The winger cuts in from the right before sending a brilliant left-footed shot into the top corner.
63 - GOAL - Villa draw level thanks to a fine move. Jota’s ball over the top finds Jonathan Kodjia, who lobs Marek Rodak before Anwar El Ghazi gets the final touch on the line.
74 - GOAL - Fulham go back in front as Harry Arter fires home from 30 yards out barely two minutes after coming off the bench.
Teams
Fulham (3-5-2): Rodak Mawson, Hector, Odoi, Christie, Onomah (Stansfield 81), McDonald (Arter 72), Johansen, Bryan, Knockaert, Cavaleiro (De La Torre 84) Subs not used: O’Riley, Harris, Jasper, Bettinelli (gk).
Villa (4-3-3): Nyland, Elmohamady, Engels, Chester, Taylor, Lansbury, Nakamba (Vassilev 80), Hourihane, Jota (Trezeguet 76), Kodjia, El Ghazi (Ramsey 86) Subs not used: Guilbert, Konsa, Hause, Kalinic (gk).
