Fulham 1-0 Aston Villa result - Ryan Sessegnon's first-half strike boosts Cottagers' European hopes

Ryan Sessegnon’s first-time strike was the difference as a well-drilled Fulham edged past Aston Villa 1-0 to stay in the hunt for European football.

The match took its time to catch fire, but the visitors, looking to secure Champions League football themselves, started to click.

Both Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins created chances for themselves but both fired narrowly wide within minutes of each other.

The hosts made the most of the reprieve as Timothy Castagne drove forward at the other end and found Raul Jimenez with a pinpoint cross.

His header was palmed away by Emi Martinez, but Sessegnon raced into the box to smash home the rebound through Ezri Konsa’s legs.

Once again, Villa applied the pressure in the second half, but Fulham looked to have made it two from a corner when Sasa Lukic headed home, but the goal was ruled out by Michael Oliver after a foul by Sander Berge on Martinez in the build-up.

Despite winning five of their last six matches, Aston Villa never really threatened an equaliser and Fulham were able to see out the closing stages with ease.

The result moves Fulham up to 10th but just two points behind sixth-placed Brighton, while Villa could slip down to fifth if Liverpool win later.

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery, speaking to TNT Sports: "We have lost a really good opportunity, the players did everything we were planning but we needed to be more clinical.

"The match was pretty even - sometimes for us sometimes for them. We created a few chances to score, it was very difficult. They have good players and coach and to beat teams like Fulham is for us something we must work on because that can happen.

"We needed fresh legs, they're tired. The players tried to keep the same game plan we had at the beginning. We had chances with Ollie Watkins, Tammy Abraham but we couldn't get in their box.

"We needed to better occupy the spaces in their box. We did everything we were planning but sometimes we are scoring sometimes not like today.

"It was a tight match and they score one goal and we lost. It's going to be very difficult. My message is the same - keep going, keep trying to get better each week."

On Marco Silva at Fulham, Glenn Hoddle told TNT Sports: "The first task at Fulham was to consolidate their position in the Premier League, and they've done that, they've ticked that box. They're not fighting among the relegation places by any means.

"Now, they're looking to break into the next level. Some sides have got that wrong down the years. When you look back at someone like Stoke City, look where they are now. So it's a bit of a 'chicken and the egg' scenario.

"Of course, you strive as a player and as a manager to get to the next level, and improve the squad. Sometimes, that can go against you but you've got to be ambitious.

"The manager will want to sit down with the owners, discuss the players they can attract, and then he might commit to a new contract based on a vision ahead to improve again.

"He will now be thinking, 'I'm not happy just surviving'. He will want to achieve that next level at Fulham, or else he will go to another club to achieve it. He's done a very good job and a consistent job with the players he's been given.

"He'll be now thinking, 'what can I do with a better squad?' I think he's earned the right to move on. I think he's got more capability and vision further down the line, with a better squad. The big question is whether he can get it here."

Player of the match Joachim Andersen told TNT Sports: "Our plan worked to perfection, and it was a top game from us. The clean sheets are the foundation for us to be solid.

"We've managed it in the past two games, and this time we managed to find a goal at the other end. [Europe] is what we play for, and we've put ourselves in a good place. We're one point off seventh so it's all to play for."

Ryan Sessegnon told TNT Sports: "Our aim is Europe and these are three points towards our target. With four games left, hopefully, we can achieve it. To be back in Europe would be a dream."

Karen Carney told TNT Sports: "Fulham really wanted it today, and you could see that when they showed passion in their defending towards the end.

"They took their chance when it came their way and their desire to keep their European dream alive was clear to see today."

Glenn Hoddle told TNT Sports: "Fulham have experienced European football before, and they've put themselves another rung up the ladder by getting the three points.

"They didn't have too many chances, but they took the big one that came their way. The defence was excellent and I thought they were comfortable going into those last 15 minutes."

Fulham move onto 48 points, level with eighth-placed Chelsea which could be a European spot.

They are also just two points off Brighton in sixth, which could lead to Champions League if Villa finish fifth, where they could end up if Liverpool beat Crystal Palace later this afternoon.

Karen Carney told TNT Sports: "Fulham were set up so well, scored when they were on top and worked hard to frustrate Villa, who weren't their usual, efficient selves. In a really tight game, I thought Fulham deserved it."

Villa are going backwards with two minutes to go. Fulham are just so well organised at the back.

Harry Wilson does brilliantly to intercept and beats two challenges before Douglas Luiz brings him down and gets booked for his troubles. Wilson was away otherwise.

One last chance for Villa? No! There goes the whistle!

Big win for Fulham in their hunt for Europe.

Harry Wilson picks up a booking for arguing with the ref. Villa are camped out in Fulham's half, but are nowhere near the goal.

Leon Bailey hits a first-time pass but it goes straight out for a goal kick.

Josh King plays it back to Oscar Bobb, but he overplays it when he had an opening for a shot! Will Fulham rue these chances?

Time is running out for Villa. They will have four minutes to find an equaliser, or maybe more?

Long throw for Matty Cash now. He launches it towards Pau Torres, but Fulham get there first and Lucas Digne skews the rebound well over and wide.

Oscar Bobb skips past Cash and goes for goal, but scuffs is straight through to Emi Martinez.

On the Tammy Abraham chance, Adam Summerton told TNT Sports: "Abraham did brilliantly right up until the end."

Karen Carney told TNT Sports: "He did it all himself and was in acres inside the box, but he didn't get it right. He did so well up until that last bit, but he just leans back."

This has been a Marco Silva masterclass so far. Antonee Robinson steps in to intercept a pass to Leon Bailey.

Tammy Abraham does brilliantly to slide the ball past Joachim Andersen and get an opening but he too puts it over!

Ryan Sessegnon heads straight off as Fulham take no chances. He is replaced by Antonee Robinson.

Villa take off Ollie Watkins for last week's hero Tammy Abraham. Can he conjure up more magic?

Ryan Sessegnon drives forward, but his cross sails out for a goal kick.

Douglas Luiz is urged to shoot but tries to feed in Leon Bailey instead. His pass is intercepted though.

Sessegnon is down injured now. It look like he pulled up on his own.

Karen Carney told TNT Sports: "Villa have had the majority of the play in this second half without having anything threatening or tangible to show for their efforts in front of goal."

Now Fulham make a double change, bringing off Emile Smith-Rowe and Samuel Chukwueze for Josh King and Oscar Bobb.

With that flurry of changes out of the way, hopefully we are set for a blockbuster end to this match.

Pau Torres has gone down now after a tangle with Rodrigo Muniz, but Villa have the ball regardless.

Aston Villa are about to make FOUR changes. That's insane.

Off: John McGinn, Youri Tielemans, lamare Bogarde and Emi Buendia

On: Ross Barkley, Leon Bailey, Jadon Sancho and Douglas Luiz

On the back of that, Marco Silva makes the first change of the afternoon, bringing on Rodrigo Muniz for Raul Jimenez.

On Castagne's disallowed goal, Karen Carney told TNT Sports: "Martinez was being held, wasn't he. It's really well-worked from Fulham. Berge was just holding onto the goalkeeper and just let him go at the last minute.

"Well done to the referee [Michael Oliver] for seeing it, but it was a fine finish from Castagne."

Fulham have hit Villa on the counter!

The Cottagers win a corner and Sasa Lukic stands it up at the back post.

Timothy Castagne comes steaming in and heads home, but it will be disallowed! Sander Berge was holding Emi Martinez.

Let-off for Villa.

Fulham will move up to 10th if the result stays the same, but just two points behind Brighton in sixth.

Villa will keep a decent cushion to Brighton, but there could still be significance. If the Villans finish fifth and win the Europa League, whoever finishes sixth in the league will qualify for the Champions League.

The ball sits up for Ollie Watkins, but he blazes over. Unai Emery is fuming!