Aston Villa 1-0 Fulham result – Premier League latest as Youri Tielemans scores only goal before Ryan Sessegnon sees second half equaliser ruled out

Youri Tielemans’ first half header was enough for Aston Villa to maintain their top-five push with a 1-0 victory against Fulham.

The Belgian midfielder met John McGinn’s 13th minute corner and his header was too powerful for goalkeeper Bernd Leno to stop.

After last weekend’s FA Cup defeat and a Premier League loss to Manchester City the previous week, Unai Emery’s side were desperate for a victory to re-ignite their Champions League hopes for next season.

Villa controlled large parts of the game and Tielemans was only denied a second on the stroke of half-time by the fingertips of Leno.

Ollie Watkins should have sealed the points in the second half, but the striker missed a glorious opportunity minutes after the break and also had an effort denied by Leno later in the half.

Fulham are also hoping for European football next season and need just three points for a club record Premier League points tally.

Ryan Sessegnon saw his equaliser ruled out by referee Robert Jones, who judged he had handled the ball moments before firing into the bottom corner.

Fulham rallied late on, but Villa had done enough to secure three vital points in their top-five charge.

Match winner Tielemans says that after having a taste of Champions League football this season his side want to ‘do it all again’.

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TNT pundits Rio Ferdinand and Peter Crouch have reacted to Aston Villa’s 1-0 win against Fulham.

Ferdinand said: "Well, that's one down. That's the way you have got to look at it.

 "You chalk that one off. They've got the W next to it. By hook or by crook you just have to get through these games now.

"You've got to get the points on the board, by no means was it a great performance of tantalising, excited or free-flowing football.

"They've got the job done. That's what it was all about today."

Crouch added: "It’s the business end of the season. By no means was that vintage Villa.

"They can play better than that. They got the job done, one stop closer to the Champions League."

It was a nervous ending for Aston Villa who run out 1-0 winners against Fulham.

Tielemans’ header separated the sides as Villa go level on 60 points with both Chelsea and Nottingham Forest ahead of both sides playing later this weekend.

Fulham are now well outside the top seven but will be hoping to keep hold of eighth position from Brighton, Bournemouth and Brentford and hope that will be enough for European football next season.

Both sides now have three games remaining this season.

Aston Villa have done enough to seal three points and to boost their Champions League hopes with a 1-0 win against Fulham.

Ramsey spots the run of substitute Malen whose first touch is perfect to get the ball out of his feet. With the goalkeeper beaten Malen sees his effort cannon back off the crossbar.

The home side look more comfortable in the last few minutes as they keep the ball and pass around their opposition.

Despite being down to 10 men the visitors believe they can snatch an equaliser. Villa are being forced further and further back.

There will be EIGHT additional minutes

Bassey has gone down with a head injury after receiving a blow from Malen. Silva is furious as Villa play on before the game is eventually halted.

 After a man of the match performance Tielemans is taken off for Barkley.

Fulham will have to finish the game with 10 men as Reed has suffered an injury while running and cannot carry on.

Rogers fizzes a ball into the Fulham box where Malen is waiting. However, Fulham goalkeeper Leno snatches the ball from his grasp to keep his side in the match.

The Villa player puts his body on the line as the ball dropped to Andersen unmarked at the back post. It’s a big moment and block by Cash.

Iwobi and Berge are replaced by Willian and Reed

That will be it for today for Watkins who is replaced by Malen.

Maatse is also replaced by Digne.

Watkins and Ramsey combine before the latter sends an inviting cross into the six-yard box. However, defender Torres fails to get enough of a connection on the ball to send it goalwards.

Castagne on for Tete; Traore on for Wilson

Tielemans is too quick for his opponents and this time Berge takes one for the team and is booked.

Bassey does well to get to the byline and clips the ball back for an unmarked Wilson. The Fulham player’s header lacks enough power to trouble Martinez in the Villa goal.