Well, that’s more like it, isn’t it? After weeks of frustration and flat performances, Villa finally gave us something to cheer about at a bouncing Villa Park, coming from behind to see off Fulham 3-1 and notch our first league win of the campaign.
It didn’t start well, mind. Raul Jiménez nodded the visitors ahead inside three minutes, and for a moment it felt like another long afternoon was on the cards. But the Mexican’s early exit through injury seemed to knock the wind out of Fulham’s sails, and slowly, we began to stir.
Ollie Watkins, who’s been stuck in a rut for what feels like forever, finally broke his duck with a clever finish over Bernd Leno after latching onto a long ball (long pass?) that Fulham’s backline completely misjudged. Relief all round. You could see the weight lift off Watkins’ shoulders — and off ours too.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe second half was a different beast. Whatever Unai Emery said at the break clearly worked. We came out with purpose, bite, and a sense of purpose. John McGinn, in his best display of the season, rifled one into the bottom corner after nicking the ball off Adama Traoré. Then, before Fulham could blink, Emi BuendÃa — who’d barely warmed up — popped up with a goal of his own, his first in claret and blue for over a year. Two goals in two minutes and suddenly Villa were cruising. What crisis?
Embed from Getty ImagesIt wasn’t all plain sailing. Emi MartÃnez had a bit of a wobble, gifting Sasa Lukic a golden chance, but Ezri Konsa was there to bail us out with a heroic clearance off the line. Fulham had their gripes — a couple of penalty shouts waved away, one for a handball and another involving Josh King and MartÃnez.
This win couldn’t have come at a better time. After five games without a victory, the mood around B6 was starting to sour. Emery’s job was never in question, but the performances had been worryingly limp for a side with European ambitions. Now, with a Europa League trip to Feyenoord looming and Burnley visiting next, there’s a bit of momentum at last.