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Fulham's Hugo Rodallega heads late winner at Aston Villa to revive hopes Fulham's Hugo Rodallega heads late winner at Aston Villa to revive hopes
(35 minutes later)
The last time a Premier League team survived from the position Fulham found themselves in on Saturday was when Roy Hodgson inspired their great escape with four victories from their final six games six years ago. Now Hugo Rodallega has lit the fuse for hopes of an unlikely reprise as the substitute scored four minutes from time to take Fulham within five points of Norwich City in 17th place whom they host next week. The last time a Premier League team survived from the position Fulham found themselves in on Saturday was when Roy Hodgson inspired their great escape with four victories from their final six games six years ago. Now Hugo Rodallega has lit the fuse for hopes of an unlikely reprise as the substitute scored four minutes from time to take Fulham within five points of 17th-placed Norwich City, whom they host next weekend.
Rodallega scored Wigan Athletic's last-day survival goal at Stoke City three years ago and it was his introduction at half-time on Saturday that encouraged Fulham to take charge against an insipid Aston Villa team who should be safe from relegation but after three successive defeats might be advised to beware now they have lost Christian Benteke through injury. Rodallega scored Wigan Athletic's last-day survival goal at Stoke City three years ago and it was his introduction at half-time on Saturday that encouraged Fulham to take charge against an insipid Aston Villa team who should be safe from relegation but after three successive defeats might be advised to beware, now they have lost Christian Benteke through injury.
After Grant Holt had equalised Kieran Richardson's opening goal in a second half as thrilling as the first half was dull, Rodallega rose to head on Lewis Holtby's diagonal cross beyond Brad Guzan. It was only the second win in Fulham's last 14 games all told, both during Felix Magath's seven-game reign.After Grant Holt had equalised Kieran Richardson's opening goal in a second half as thrilling as the first half was dull, Rodallega rose to head on Lewis Holtby's diagonal cross beyond Brad Guzan. It was only the second win in Fulham's last 14 games all told, both during Felix Magath's seven-game reign.
Fulham are the only team with more home defeats than Villa in the Premier League this season. Now they need to find their form at home if they are to retain their status in this season of three managers.Fulham are the only team with more home defeats than Villa in the Premier League this season. Now they need to find their form at home if they are to retain their status in this season of three managers.
Magath can never be accused of not giving anyone a chance. The three changes he made for his starting line-up for this game took to 25 the total he has made in his first seven matches in charge; though to be fair few have enhanced Fulham's chances of staying up. Magath can never be accused of not giving anyone a chance. The three changes he made for his starting lineup for this game took to 25 the total he has made in his first seven matches in charge; though few have enhanced Fulham's chances of staying up.
It could be said Fulham have a favourable run-in, with Norwich City, Hull City and Crystal Palace still to play at home, but this would require them to be in control of their own form which, under this third manager of a depressing season, cannot be argued with any degree of confidence.It could be said Fulham have a favourable run-in, with Norwich City, Hull City and Crystal Palace still to play at home, but this would require them to be in control of their own form which, under this third manager of a depressing season, cannot be argued with any degree of confidence.
Villa, lacking Benteke, out with a ruptured achilles for six months, and Gabriel Agbonlahor in attack, and Fabian Delph, their best player this season, from midfield, looked vulnerable, even there for the taking, but Fulham had not won away since Boxing Day and lined up so cagily it appeared they would be content to go home with a single point. Villa, lacking Benteke, out with a ruptured achilles for six months, and Gabriel Agbonlahor in attack and Fabian Delph, their best player this season, from midfield, looked vulnerable, even there for the taking, but Fulham had not won away since Boxing Day and lined up so cagily it appeared they would be content to go home with a single point.
Paul Lambert was obliged to name four full-backs in his starting XI which suggested that, already eight points clear of the drop zone at kick-off, he would not be averse to a draw either. So the prospects for the neutrals' entertainment for the afternoon were not unduly raised – which at least limited their disappointment with a mediocre first half. Paul Lambert was obliged to name four full-backs in his starting XI, which suggested that, already eight points clear of the drop zone at kick-off, he would not be averse to a draw either. However, the Villa defence were prone to giving the ball away. Nathan Baker passed to Cauley Woodrow, the callow Fulham striker, who sent Pajtim Kasami in down the left only for Brad Guzan to parry and Steve Sidwell to be given offside before he could convert the rebound.
The Villa defence were particularly prone to giving the ball away. Nathan Baker passed to Cauley Woodrow, the callow Fulham striker, who sent Pajtim Kasami in down the left only for Brad Guzan to parry and Steve Sidwell to be given offside before he could convert the rebound.
Late in the half the hapless Joe Bennett passed back for Sascha Riether, who beat Baker, when the Villa centre-back dived in, and scurried down the inside-right channel only, with no options on offer, to shoot to where Guzan was able to save adroitly.Late in the half the hapless Joe Bennett passed back for Sascha Riether, who beat Baker, when the Villa centre-back dived in, and scurried down the inside-right channel only, with no options on offer, to shoot to where Guzan was able to save adroitly.
Marc Albrighton buzzed and weaved enthusiastically for Villa and it was from his cross that Grant Holt headed just wide.Marc Albrighton buzzed and weaved enthusiastically for Villa and it was from his cross that Grant Holt headed just wide.
It was as if these two teams had been so fearful of losing they forgot about the possibilities of winning. But Magath made two more changes at half-time that suggested he sensed that an unlikely victory was not to be sniffed at and, immediately, Rodallega stretched the play more with his desire to get in behind. It was as if these two teams had been so fearful of losing they forgot about the possibilities of winning. But Magath made two more changes at half-time that suggested he sensed an unlikely victory and, immediately, Rodallega stretched the play more with his desire to get in behind.
With Ashkan Dejagah attacking from wide right, the game opened up frantically, play switching from end to end as nonsensically as it had been caged in the middle third in the opening period. Leandro Bacuna, picking up Holt's knockdown from Ron Vlaar's long pass, ran in from wide right to force a good save from David Stockdale who then held high Andreas Weimann's powerful shot from Holt's pull-back.With Ashkan Dejagah attacking from wide right, the game opened up frantically, play switching from end to end as nonsensically as it had been caged in the middle third in the opening period. Leandro Bacuna, picking up Holt's knockdown from Ron Vlaar's long pass, ran in from wide right to force a good save from David Stockdale who then held high Andreas Weimann's powerful shot from Holt's pull-back.
But Fulham were by now infused with greater belief, so it was barely a surprise when they took the lead just after the hour mark, when Dejagah squared the ball from the right for Kieran Richardson to unleash a howitzer of a left-footed shot into the far top corner. But Fulham were by now infused with greater belief, so it was barely a surprise when they took the lead just after the hour mark, when Dejagah squared the ball from the right for Kieran Richardson to unleash a fierce, left-footed shot into the far top corner.
Richardson was an integral part of West Bromwich Albion's great escape round these parts in 2005 but Fulham need something almost more remarkable, more akin to that achieved by Roy Hodgson's side six years ago.Richardson was an integral part of West Bromwich Albion's great escape round these parts in 2005 but Fulham need something almost more remarkable, more akin to that achieved by Roy Hodgson's side six years ago.
Although Holt equalised with his first Villa goal, finding freedom in the penalty area to head in Albrighton's corner with 20 minutes remaining, Fulham kept going for it.Although Holt equalised with his first Villa goal, finding freedom in the penalty area to head in Albrighton's corner with 20 minutes remaining, Fulham kept going for it.
Holtby dribbled round Guzan only for Matt Lowton to clear off the line but then with four minutes remaining came the moment that keeps their hopes alive. Holtby dribbled round Guzan only for Matt Lowton to clear off the line but then, with four minutes remaining, came the moment that keeps their hopes alive.