Fulham 2-0 Aston Villa Stats and Highlights
Fulham ended a run of seven defeats by beating Aston Villa and giving new manager Rene Meulensteen his first win in charge of the club.
Steve Sidwell angled a shot in on the stretch to give the home side the lead.
The influential Dimitar Berbatov added a second from the spot after Leandro Bacuna was adjudged to have fouled Alexander Kacaniklic.
John Arne Riise’s header hit the post for Fulham against a Villa side who might have had a late penalty.
Watch English Premier League match, Fulham Vs Aston Villa stats and highlights here.
Venue: Craven Cottage
Date: Sunday, 8 December 2013
Kick off: 13:30 GMT
Head-to-head
Fulham have only won four of their 24 Premier League meetings with Aston Villa (W4, D11, L9). All of those victories have come at home, latterly last season when Chris Baird scored the only goal in the 84th minute.
The last four meetings have only produced four goals.
Fulham
Fulham have lost six consecutive league matches for the first time since February-March 2002 in their debut Premier League season.
It’s the club’s joint-worst start to a top-flight campaign. They had an identical record after 14 matches in 1967-68 (W3, D1, L10) and ultimately finished bottom of the division.
Fulham have won just one and lost nine of their last 11 Premier League games at Craven Cottage (W1, D1, L9).
This the first time the Whites have lost five of their opening seven top-flight home matches.
They have trailed in 11 games this season, more than any other side, and lost 10 of those matches (D1).
Rene Meulensteen’s previous managerial experience is limited to half a season at Brondby in 2006-07 and two games in charge of Anzhi Makhachkala at the beginning of this season. In total, he won six and lost seven of his 20 league games in charge with those two clubs.
Aston Villa
Villa have only lost one of their last nine Premier League away matches (W4, D4, L1). Their record of just three away defeats in 2013 is bettered only by Manchester United (two).
Paul Lambert’s side are on a five-match unbeaten run (W2, D3), keeping three clean sheets in the process.
They are the only Premier League side yet to drop any points from a winning position.
Christian Benteke, who came on as a substitute against Southampton in midweek, has now gone eight games without a goal.
Fabian Delph registered his first Premier League goal and assist against the Saints.
