Latest: Fulham 2 Aston Villa 0 – Defence stands strong to protect lead

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Fulham remain on course for the first win of the Rene Meulensteen era.

The Whites, attempting to build on first half goals from Steve Sidwell and Dimitar Berbatov, were again on the front foot after the break.

Philippe Senderos headed a corner straight at Aston Villa keeper Brad Guzan while Berbatov sliced well wide after trying to meet John Arne Riise’s crossfield pass.

Giorgos Karagounis let fly with a shot from distance which floated just over Guzan’s crossbar

Fulham’s defence has also remained strong in the face of Villa counter-attacks, with Riise rising well to head behind under pressure from Andreas Weimann.

Sidwell had netted the opener against his former club on 21 minutes, latching on to Karagounis’s pass before slipping it past Guzan.

Berbatov then fired home the second from the spot after Ashkan Dejagah tumbled under Leandro Bacuna’s challenge.

Fulham: Stekelenburg; Riether, Hughes, Senderos, Riise; Dejagah, Parker, Karagounis, Sidwell, Kačaniklić; Berbatov.
Subs: Stockdale, Zverotic, Richardson, Kasami, Duff, Ruiz, Christensen.

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