BBC Sport - Football - Fulham 1-1 Aston Villa (original) (raw)
Hangeland rescued Fulham with almost the last touch of the game
Brede Hangeland headed a 94th-minute equaliser to deny Aston Villa their first league win since September.
The Fulham defender rose highest to nod in Danny Murphy's free-kick and make Villa pay for not killing the game off.
Marc Albrighton put the visitors ahead with their first league goal for 385 minutes when he slotted home.
Nathan Delfouneso missed a hat-trick of chances and Ashley Young went close before Villa were punished for their profligacy by Hangeland's late goal.
The visitors will be desperately disappointed not to have won the game but only had themselves to blame for failing to put the result beyond doubt.
Houllier frustrated by late equaliser
They went into the match well aware that their goals record left a lot to be desired and the absence of Emile Heskey, John Carew and Gabriel Agbonlahor put extra pressure on their less experienced replacements.
But after Albrighton had finally ended their goal drought, they really should have gone on to score more although Fulham deserved credit for a never-say-die attitude which brought them a last-gasp reward.
At the outset, Villa served notice of their intent when Stewart Downing sped clear on a breakaway, only to be denied by a last-ditch block from Carlos Salcido.
And although Zoltan Gera headed a Fulham chance straight at Brad Friedel, Villa continued to press, with Delfouneso nodding wide after being picked out by a fine ball from Albrighton.
The Cottagers hit back and went close when Gera dragged a shot past the upright and the Hungarian also smashed a rebound over the bar after Clint Dempsey's effort had been well kept out by Friedel.
Villa lost skipper Nigel Reo-Coker to injury, but started to take charge as they provided greater support for Delfouneso and his lay-off allowed Barry Bannan to take a snap shot, which the home side's goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer dealt with comfortably.
Fulham striker Moussa Dembele volleyed over from 12 yards before Delfouneso headed a clear chance over the bar after Luke Young's low shot rebounded up off Schwarzer.
But moments later Bannan found Albrighton with a long cross-field pass and the midfielder's exquisite first touch put him through on goal and he finished with aplomb.
Fulham resilience pleases Hughes
After the break, Villa tightened up considerably in the midfield and denied the Cottagers any time and space to pick their passes, while remaining dangerous on the counter.
Delfouneso should have doubled the lead when clean through on goal but he scuffed his shot and handed Schwarzer an easy save.
Perhaps sensing the game was slipping away from Fulham, manager Mark Hughes brought on striker Andrew Johnson, and he might have levelled he went through one-on-one with Friedel but the ball appeared to stick between his feet and the on-rushing keeper was able to block.
Ashley Young was next to miss for Villa when he was unable to convert a diving header but it looked like their single goal might be enough until Murphy's injury-time free-kick from the left was met by Hangeland, who nodded downward into the bottom corner to earn Fulham what had looked like an unlikely point.
Fulham manager Mark Hughes:
"In the first-half I thought we edged the better chances.
"I was disappointed to concede just before half-time and in the second-half, Villa were able to get people behind the ball and play on the counter and that was always a worry for us.
"But we kept on going and doing the right things. We didn't ask enough questions in the second-half, in terms of balls into the box, but the one ball we did produce brought us the goal and we are thankful for that.
"At that late stage you are thinking the game is lost and it has gone beyond you. We got something out of the game so we are pleased. We have got to be pleased with the point."
Aston Villa manager Gerard Houllier:
"I am extremely disappointed by the result, particularly when you take into account the effort and the performance of the whole team.
"I think Nathan Delfouneso did extremely well for his first game this season. He had chances to score today but that will come.
"At the moment we do not get the points that we deserve. We need to be more clinical, provide the finish and not allow the opposition to come back.
"I think Nigel Reo-Coker has a knee injury - a media ligament injury. It depends what grade it is, but I would imagine he will be out for a minimum of two or three weeks."
Live text and stats
Saturday, 6 November 2010
Premier League
Home Team | Score | Away Team | Time |
---|---|---|---|
Fulham | 1-1 | Aston Villa | FT |
(HT 0-1) | |||
Hangeland 95 | Albrighton 41 |
FULHAM
ASTON VILLA
Possession
- Fulham 53%
- Aston Villa 47%
Attempts on target
- Fulham 10
- Aston Villa 8
Attempts off target
- Fulham 4
- Aston Villa 7
Corners
- Fulham 3
- Aston Villa 3
Fouls
Fulham 12
Aston Villa 4
Final Result
Full Time
90:00+5:12 The match has reached full-time.
90:00+4:41 Marc Albrighton challenges Damien Duff unfairly and gives away a free kick. Assist on the goal came from Danny Murphy.
90:00+4:41 GOAL - Brede Hangeland:Fulham 1 - 1 Aston Villa Brede Hangeland finds the net with a headed goal from inside the penalty box. Fulham 1-1 Aston Villa.
90:00+3:41 Damien Duff takes a shot. Blocked by Marc Albrighton.
90:00+2:15 Ashley Young produces a right-footed shot from the edge of the area and misses to the left of the goal.
90:00+0:18 Ashley Young fouled by Damien Duff, the ref awards a free kick. Marc Albrighton takes the free kick.
90:00+0:18 Booking Damien Duff receives a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.
88:56 Ashley Young takes a shot. Mark Schwarzer makes a save.
87:23 Substitution Stephen Ireland on for Nathan Delfouneso.
86:24 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on James Collins by Moussa Dembele. Direct free kick taken by Brad Friedel.
85:47 Clinton Dempsey takes a shot. Blocked by Richard Dunne.
84:26 Headed effort from deep inside the area by Clinton Dempsey misses to the right of the goal.
83:17 The referee blows for offside against Nathan Delfouneso. Mark Schwarzer takes the free kick.
82:23 Corner taken right-footed by Ashley Young from the right by-line, clearance by Brede Hangeland.
75:35 Foul by Moussa Dembele on Stephen Warnock, free kick awarded. Richard Dunne takes the free kick.
74:47 Shot on goal by Ashley Young from just inside the area clears the crossbar.
74:25 Inswinging corner taken by Zoltan Gera from the right by-line.
74:11 Damien Duff takes a shot. Nathan Delfouneso gets a block in.
73:55 Short corner taken by Simon Davies from the left by-line.
73:39 Andrew Johnson takes a shot. Brad Friedel makes a save.
72:19 Effort on goal by Marc Albrighton from just inside the area clears the crossbar.
71:13 Free kick awarded for a foul by Zoltan Gera on Stewart Downing. Stephen Warnock restarts play with the free kick.
70:37 Marc Albrighton concedes a free kick for a foul on Damien Duff. Brede Hangeland restarts play with the free kick.
68:49 Substitution Damien Duff is brought on as a substitute for Carlos Salcido.
62:35 Danny Murphy takes a shot. Richard Dunne gets a block in.
58:56 Substitution Jonathan Greening goes off and Andrew Johnson comes on.
57:02 Substitution Stephen Kelly replaces Chris Baird.
55:01 Foul by Zoltan Gera on Ciaran Clark, free kick awarded. Stewart Downing takes the direct free kick.
53:34 Nathan Delfouneso takes a shot. Save by Mark Schwarzer.
51:29 Effort from a long way out by Stephen Warnock goes wide right of the target.
50:58 Free kick awarded for a foul by Chris Baird on Stewart Downing. The free kick is delivered right-footed by Ashley Young from left wing.
50:23 Unfair challenge on Luke Young by Simon Davies results in a free kick. James Collins restarts play with the free kick.
47:57 Barry Bannan takes a shot. Brede Hangeland gets a block in.
47:35 Clinton Dempsey takes a shot. Richard Dunne gets a block in.
45:01 The referee gets the second half underway.
Half Time
45:00+3:16 It is the end of the first-half.
45:00+1:47 Free kick awarded for a foul by Ciaran Clark on Danny Murphy. Jonathan Greening takes the free kick.
44:18 Foul by Zoltan Gera on Stewart Downing, free kick awarded. Stewart Downing takes the free kick.
43:44 Clinton Dempsey takes a shot. Save by Brad Friedel.
40:55 Assist by Barry Bannan.
40:55 GOAL - Marc Albrighton:Fulham 0 - 1 Aston Villa Marc Albrighton scores a goal from inside the area to the bottom left corner of the goal. Fulham 0-1 Aston Villa.
40:07 Header on goal by Nathan Delfouneso from inside the box goes harmlessly over the target.
39:57 Luke Young takes a shot. Save made by Mark Schwarzer.
39:45 Foul by Danny Murphy on Ashley Young, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Stephen Warnock.
37:05 Moussa Dembele produces a right-footed shot from inside the area that clears the crossbar.
34:45 Barry Bannan takes a shot. Mark Schwarzer makes a save.
34:20 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Ashley Young by Brede Hangeland. Direct free kick taken by Stewart Downing.
32:55 Substitution Ciaran Clark joins the action as a substitute, replacing Nigel Reo-Coker.
27:46 Zoltan Gera concedes a free kick for a foul on Stephen Warnock. Direct free kick taken by Stephen Warnock.
24:20 Foul by Moussa Dembele on Richard Dunne, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by James Collins.
22:45 Nathan Delfouneso is caught offside. Free kick taken by Brede Hangeland.
22:10 Stewart Downing takes a shot. Save by Mark Schwarzer.
20:18 Simon Davies takes a inswinging corner from the left by-line to the near post, clearance made by Nathan Delfouneso.
17:29 Clinton Dempsey takes a shot. Brad Friedel makes a save. Shot from deep inside the area by Zoltan Gera goes over the bar.
16:42 Zoltan Gera produces a left-footed shot from the edge of the box and misses to the right of the target.
14:57 Headed effort from deep inside the penalty area by Nathan Delfouneso misses to the right of the target.
7:20 Corner taken by Stewart Downing from the right by-line, Headed effort from inside the box by James Collins misses to the right of the target.
6:33 Corner taken by Stewart Downing, clearance by Brede Hangeland.
4:57 The official flags Clinton Dempsey offside. Free kick taken by Richard Dunne.
3:02 Zoltan Gera takes a shot. Brad Friedel makes a save.
1:15 Stewart Downing takes a shot. Aaron Hughes gets a block in.
0:35 Foul by James Collins on Clinton Dempsey, free kick awarded. Free kick crossed right-footed by Danny Murphy from left channel, Brad Friedel makes a save.
0:00 The match has kicked off.
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