Bentley shines as Spurs put Fulham to the sword

January 27, 2010

Tottenham strengthened their grip on fourth place in the Premier League after a 2-0 win over London rivals Fulham at White Hart Lane on Tuesday.

A first-half goal from England striker Peter Crouch and a second from the previously out-of favour David Bentley secured the win for Spurs, who remain on course for a Champions League spot after Liverpool’s draw at Wolves allowed the north Londoners to open up a three-point gap between the teams.

While the hosts will be glad to have ended a disappointing recent run, Roy Hodgson’s Fulham continue to struggle and have now lost four league games in a row after a strong start to the campaign.

The visitors’ preparation was disrupted by Manchester United’s announcement that they had agreed a fee for England Under-21 defender Chris Smalling, who has impressed since breaking into the team last September.

Despite the speculation, Hodgson felt that the centre-back was sufficiently focused and named him in the starting eleven.

But Tottenham’s started the game in electrifying fashion, creating two opportunities within the first two minutes.

With their first attack Jermain Defoe’s neat flick set up Tom Huddlestone on the edge of the area, but Australia goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer dived full length to turn the former Derby man’s powerful drive wide of the post.

Fulham absorbed the early pressure and threatened themselves in the 12th minute, Heurelho Gomes in the Spurs net reacting quickly to smother the ball at Bobby Zamora’s feet after a smart through ball by Hungary’s Zoltan Gera.

Crouch broke the deadlock for the hosts in the 27th minute, but most of the credit will be laid at the feet of Luka Modric.

Two Fulham defenders were comfortably guiding the ball over the dead-ball line until the Croatia midfielder nipped in to pull the ball back and cross for Crouch, who threw out a leg and poked the ball past Schwarzer.

Spurs were guilty of throwing away the lead twice during Saturday’s FA Cup match with Leeds, so it was understandable that they curtailed their attacking instincts for a while after that.

However, Modric came within inches of doubling the lead on the stroke of half-time as he whipped a vicious shot over the bar after a jinking run down the left channel.

Fulham battled hard for an equaliser, but Spurs were always more likely to get the next goal.

Bentley, subject of much transfer speculation after falling out with boss Harry Redknapp, delivered a perfect cross into the area which Defoe headed just over the crossbar.

Former Arsenal man Bentley’s prospects of more first team football or a lucrative transfer were boosted when he made it 2-0 on the hour mark, albeit with a large slice of fortune.

Wales defender Gareth Bale won a free-kick on the left corner of the area after being hacked down.

Bentley stepped up and curled a shot towards goal which took a huge deflection of the defensive wall before looping over Schwarzer’s head.

The stroke of luck seemed to invigorate the former Blackburn man who had another long-range free-kick saved by Schwarzer before delivering a fine ball which defender Michael Dawson headed over the top.

Redknapp’s men showed they had learnt from Saturday’s draw, comfortably playing out time to give themselves breathing space in the coveted fourth spot.

LONDON (AFP)

Tags: Australia, bentley, bobby zamora, Chris Smalling, David Bentley, defoe, England, FA Cup, fulham, gap, Goalkeeper, Harry Redknapp, Hart Lane, Hungary, last september, league games, LEEDS, Liverpool, london, londoners, luka modric, manchester united, mark schwarzer, michael dawson, north Londoners, peter crouch, point gap, premier league, roy hodgson, tom huddlestone, Wales, white hart lane, zoltan gera

Fulham striker Zamora facing injury lay-off

January 6, 2010

Fulham are on Wednesday sweating on the results of a scan on top scorer Bobby Zamora, who is facing a lay-off of at least several weeks after suffering a serious-looking injury in the 3-2 defeat at Stoke.

Fulham manager Roy Hodgson is resigned to being without his leading striker for some time after he suffered what was initially thought to be a dislocation of either the collar bone or his shoulder.

“Either way it is a bad injury,” said Hodgson, who also saw influential Norwegian centre-back Brede Hangeland forced off at half-time.

“It was a very expensive day for us,” Hodgson added. “We were forced to replace Hangeland at half-time with a recurrence of his knee injury and we lost Zamora early in the second half and we have also lost the game.”

Zamora has scored 11 goals in all competitions for Fulham this season, including six in his last seven games.

Hodgson added: “Andy Johnson dislocated his collar bone and he made a swift recovery and was back on the field in three weeks.

“Having said that, for the injury to heal fully it takes longer because as a forward you?re always being buffeted around and you can?t protect it as well as you would like.”

Stoke seized control of Tuesday’s encounter at the Britannia Stadium after Tuncay Sanli had headed them into an early lead and further strikes from Abdoulaye Faye and Mamady Sidibe gave them a commanding three-goal advantage by half-time.

Ireland winger Damien Duff pulled a goal back for Fulham just after the hour mark and a Clint Dempsey strike five minutes from time made things frantic at the end, but Stoke were able to hold out for a win that lifts them to tenth in the table, a place and three points behind their visitors.

“I thought we did well to come out in the second half after conceding those disastrous goals in the first half,” Hodgson reflected.

“I didn’t think we were particularly out-played in the first half but 3-0 in any league is a very difficult deficit to come back from.

“I thought we gave it our best shot and I just wish the game had gone on for another 10 minutes – who knows, we might have sneaked one in.”

Stoke’s victory was their first since in the league since November 22 and ended a run of six league matches without a win, in which they had failed to score in all but one.

“I thought it was a very good first-half performance and we could have scored more goals to be honest,” said manager Tony Pulis.

“We really pressed them in and got after them and I thought we did really well and looked tight together.

“Fair play to Fulham in the second half, they came out and pushed bodies forward and made it nervous for us.”

LONDON (AFP)

Tags: abdoulaye faye, Andy Johnson, bobby zamora, britannia stadium, Clint Dempsey, collar bone, Damien Duff, dislocation, Faye, fulham, goal advantage, Ireland, knee injury, last seven games, london, Mamady, norwegian centre, recurrence, roy hodgson, swift recovery, time ireland, tony pulis, top scorer, tuncay sanli

Fulham suffers injury blows

January 6, 2010

The loss against Stoke City (3-2) wasn’t the only setback for Roy Hodgson. The Fulham boss had to watch in despair how striker Bobby Zamora and centre half Brede Hangeland left the pitch with an injury. Zamora’s injury seems serious.

Zamora, who has scored 11 goals this season, was hurt following a challenge by Abdoulaye Faye.

“It is a dislocation – I don’t know whether it is a collarbone or a shoulder but either way it is a bad injury,” said Hodgson.

“It is a very expensive day for us,” said the Fulham manager after the match. “We were forced to replace Brede Hangeland at half-time with a recurrence of his knee injury and we lost Zamora early in the second half.

“It is very disappointing because Bobby is playing so well, we can only hope it doesn’t keep him out for too long.

“I don’t know what the diagnosis is going to be, we will have to wait for the scans.”

Fulham were 3-0 down at half-time but the Cottagers improved after the break, with goals from Damien Duff and Clint Dempsey making it a frantic finish at the Britannia Stadium.

Tags: bobby zamora, boss, brede hangeland, britannia stadium, Clint Dempsey, collarbone, Damien Duff, despair, diagnosis, dislocation, Faye, fulham, knee injury, match, pitch, recurrence, roy hodgson, second half, setback, Stoke City

Fulham treble dents United title bid

December 19, 2009

Manchester United’s English Premier League title ambitions suffered a setback as they slumped to an abject 3-0 defeat by Fulham here on Saturday.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s side delivered one of their most toothless displays of the season at a bitterly cold Craven Cottage and were deservedly beaten thanks to goals from Danny Murphy, Bobby Zamora and Damien Duff.

Defeat ensured United did not overhaul leaders Chelsea and they could be six points adrift of the west Londoners at Christmas – not an irretrievable position, particularly given the club’s habit of reserving their best form for the new year, but hardly ideal.

There are, without question, serious problems for Ferguson to address.

Injuries have deprived the Scot of the majority of his first-choice back four and the defence which was pulled apart so easily on Saturday took the term ‘makeshift’ to a whole new level.

Darren Fletcher and Michael Carrick were both pulled back from midfield while Ritchie de Laet made just his third league start at centre-half: none enjoyed the experience.

Fulham’s attackers duly feasted on the unexpected swathes of space which opened up in United’s defensive third and Ferguson must now consider whether he has to spend in January to plug some of those gaping holes.

The focus, inevitably, will be on United’s deficiencies following their heaviest defeat of the season but that is unfair on Fulham, who were little short of magnificent.

The south-west Londoners have won five of their last seven games and no longer have an inferiority complex when they are confronted by members of the Premier League’s elite.

Roy Hodgson’s side were the more polished outfit.

Disciplined in defence, combative in midfield and creative in attack, Fulham penned their illustrious guests in their own half for long spells and might have won by an even greater margin.

United were grateful to their stand-in goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak in the 18th minute, the Poland international producing a superb reaction save from Zoltan Gera after the striker had met Zamora’s chested pass on the volley at close range.

Kuszczak deserved the thanks of his team-mates but, instead, they repaid him poorly, leaking a dreadful opening goal just four minutes later.

After Paul Scholes dawdled on the ball just inside his own-half, Murphy snaffled away possession, advanced 20 yards and struck a low, bouncing shot that found the bottom corner.

Another slip from the former England international in the 32nd minute almost gifted Fulham a second, Clint Dempsey seizing on his error and releasing Gera in the area.

The Hungarian’s chipped cross was just too fractionally high for Zamora at the back post, whose header slid wide.

Ferguson undoubtedly subjected his side to some of his infamous ‘hairdryer’ treatment at the interval but, for once, it failed to have the desired effect.

Instead, within seconds of the re-start, United were further behind.

Duff charged down the right and looped a teasing cross to the back post, where Dempsey rose above Darren Fletcher and nodded down to Zamora. The striker lashed in from close range for his fourth goal in three games.

Ferguson flung on Dimitar Berbatov to join the ineffective Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney as the away contingent bellowed “attack, attack” but it had little effect.

Instead, Fulham rubber-stamped their triumph with a well crafted third in the 75th minute, Duff volleying in from Zamora’s lay-off.

LONDON (AFP)

Tags: alex ferguson, bobby zamora, craven cottage, Damien Duff, Danny Murphy, darren fletcher, de laet, England, English Premier League, fulham, illustrious guests, inferiority complex, last seven games, london, londoners, Manchester, manchester united, Michael Carrick, michael owen, midfield, paul scholes, premier league, Ritchie De Laet, roy hodgson, sir alex ferguson, six points, tomasz kuszczak, wayne rooney, west Londoners, zoltan gera

Zamora shoots down Sunderland to make his point

December 7, 2009

Fulham moved into eighth place in the Premier League after Bobby Zamora’s early strike clinched a 1-0 win over Sunderland at Craven Cottage on Sunday.

Roy Hodgson’s team qualified for the Europa League last season after finishing seventh and the west Londoners look capable of repeating that impressive achievement this term.

They have lost just one of their last nine league matches thanks to what was only Zamora’s 10th goal in two seasons with the club.

The former West Ham and Tottenham forward has come in for criticism from Fulham fans for his lack of goals and he celebrated his winner by pushing team-mate Damien Duff out of the way to make an angry gesture to the home supporters.

The Black Cats should have been ahead early on when former Fulham midfielder Steed Malbranque ran onto Lorik Cana’s pass but Australia goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer was equal to the finish.

That near-miss provoked a superb response from Fulham, who took the lead through Zamora in the seventh minute. Duff laid the ball back to John Pantsil and when the ball came over Zamora nipped in front of Phil Bardsley to head home his sixth goal of the season.

Sunderland suffered another blow when Anton Ferdinand was forced to limp off after being fouled by Erik Nevland as the defender tried to shield the ball out of play.

American midfielder Clint Dempsey was a constant danger to the Sunderland defence and he curled a free-kick just over the crossbar before shooting wide from Zamora’s pass.

Zamora came close to a second goal twice in quick succession when he nodded Jonathan Greening’s cross wide, then but headed against the bar from Paul Konchesky’s cross.

Nevland was guilty of a far worse miss before half-time when Zamora found him in the six-yard box. Sunderland goalkeeper Marton Fulop saved Nevland’s first effort and the former Manchester United striker blasted over the rebound with the goal at his mercy.

Dempsey tried his luck again early in the second half as Fulham pressed for the second goal, but his long-range shot was off-target.

Out of nothing Kenwyne Jones was presented with a glorious chance to equalise by Paul Konchesky’s wayward back-pass. Schwarzer came to the rescue with a smart stop to frustrate the visitors.

Bruce’s side went even closer to an equaliser when Darren Bent met Kieran Richardson’s cross with a fierce volley that flashed just wide.

LONDON (AFP)

Tags: black cats, bobby zamora, Clint Dempsey, constant danger, craven cottage, crossbar, Duff, Erik Nevland, impressive achievement, john pantsil, london, lorik cana, Manchester, mark schwarzer, paul konchesky, phil bardsley, premier league, roy hodgson, sixth goal, steed malbranque, superb response, team mate, west Londoners

Liverpool lose Degen appeal

November 4, 2009

Liverpool have lost their appeal over full-back Philipp Degen’s red card in Saturday’s 3-1 defeat to Fulham at Craven Cottage.

Injury-hit Liverpool had both Swiss defender Degen, and stand-in skipper Jamie Carragher sent off in the second-half of the match at Craven Cottage.

Liverpool appealed against both decisions and now await the FA’s deliberations over Carragher’s foul on Bobby Zamora that saw him red-carded.

On the Degen case, an FA statement said: “At a Regulatory Commission hearing today, a claim for wrongful dismissal by Liverpool defender Philipp Degen was rejected.

“Degen was sent off for serious foul play during Liverpool’s Premier League match with Fulham on Saturday 31 October. Degen’s three-match suspension begins with immediate effect.”

Degen will now be unavailable for the Premier League games at home to Birmingham and Manchester City, plus the Merseyside derby clash at Everton on November 29.

With fellow full-back Glen Johnson’s calf injury forcing him out of Wednesday night’s Champions League Group E clash in Lyon, Degen, who is not registered for Europe, could have found himself getting an extended run in boss Rafael Benitez’s first-team.

Liverpool felt that Degen’s foul on Clint Dempsey merited only a yellow card, however the FA do not agree.

If Johnson does recover in time for Monday’s game with Birmingham, Degen will probably find himself completing the ban in reserve football.

Abhimanyu Rajput

Tags: abhimanyu, bobby zamora, calf injury, champions league group, Clint Dempsey, craven cottage, deliberations, foul play, fulham, glen johnson, jamie carragher, manchester city, merseyside derby, philipp degen, premier league games, rafael benitez, rajput, regulatory commission, wrongful dismissal, yellow card

Benitez on backfoot after Reds flop at Fulham

November 1, 2009

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez admits he has plenty of thinking to do after an already troubled season took another turn for the worse with a 3-1 defeat by Fulham here at Craven Cottage.

Saturday’s setback was Liverpool’s fifth reverse in just 11 Premier League fixtures and they trail leaders Chelsea by nine points, with champions Manchester United, Arsenal and Tottenham all ahead of them in the table.

Benitez also has Champions League qualification to secure and cannot afford another defeat on Wednesday away to French club Lyon, who earlier in the competition won 2-1 at Anfield.

Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres, the undisputed top talents in his squad, are both struggling for fitness so Benitez is not short of problems.

“In football you have to keep calm and try to find solutions,” the Spaniard insisted.

“We have to think about what we have to do now. We have too many injuries and I have to analyse how many players I have available.”

Torres netted a fine equaliser to cancel out Bobby Zamora’s opener for the home side but was taken off after 65 minutes with the score at 1-1.

Not long afterwards substitute Erik Nevland put Fulham back ahead with a cheeky back-heel and Liverpool found themselves down to nine men after first Philipp Degen and then captain Jamie Carragher were shown straight red cards. United States international Clint Dempsey wrapped up the scoring late on.

Benitez attempted to justify his decision to rest Torres on the grounds a similar policy had worked last week against Manchester United, when he scored the first goal in a 2-0 victory.

“We decided to play Fernando against United and that was difficult because he was not 100 percent fit. Afterwards he needed four days to recover,” explained the manager.

“I took him off because we don’t want to lose an important player like Fernando for one month.”

Benitez also made it clear he would appeal against both red cards, with Degen having been found guilty of a reckless lunge at Dempsey and Carragher hauling Zamora down to prevent him going clear.

“We will have to appeal. The first one was, for me, a yellow card and the other one it was clear that ‘Carra’ was kicking the ball. I saw it on a replay. Two incidents in a few minutes when we were losing was difficult to take.”

Fulham manager Roy Hodgson had little sympathy for Degen however.

“I’m not a referee but we know you are not allowed to lunge at players and if you do in a fairly aggressive way – and don’t take the ball – then there’s a good chance of something happening to you,” he said.

Reflecting on the match, Hodgson added: “Every time you take a scalp like Liverpool’s you’ve got to be happy.”

Damien Duff’s inability to last longer than half time was a disappointment for Fulham but Hodgson was hopeful the Republic of Ireland winger would not have to miss the forthcoming World Cup play-off double header with France, although he would play no part in Thursday’s Europa League game in Rome.

“It’s an injury he has been struggling with for a while,” he said. “It stems from his Achilles, although it’s a little bit more complicated than that.”

“There is no way I would even consider him for Roma. I will ask the medical staff to take as long as they need to try to get him back into shape as quickly as they can.

“And if he’s fit for next Sunday then there’s no reason why he shouldn’t play for the Republic. It is very hard stopping Damien Duff playing for the Republic of Ireland. You have to lock him in a cage.”

LONDON (AFP)

Tags: bobby zamora, champions league, Clint Dempsey, craven cottage, equaliser, Fernando Torres, french club, fulham, jamie carragher, Liverpool, lunge, manchester united, philipp degen, premier league fixtures, red cards, setback, Spaniard, Steven Gerrard, united states international

Fulham enjoy birthday celebration at Hull´s expense

October 20, 2009

Fulham celebrated the club’s 130th anniversary by pulling clear of the Premier League’s relegation zone with a 2-0 win over fellow strugglers Hull at Craven Cottage on Monday.

Bobby Zamora’s first-half header and a Diomansy Kamara strike just after the hour mark settled a contest which Fulham might have won more comfortably and left the visitors mired in the drop zone.

Zamora’s opener came two minutes before the interval, the striker heading home following a fierce shot from Ireland winger Damien Duff, which Hull goalkeeper Boaz Myhill was unable to hold.

Duff also had a hand in Fulham’s second, releasing Zamora down the right to provide the pass from which Kamara put the outcome beyond doubt, possibly from a fractionally offside position at the back post.

Zamora and Kamara formed Fulham’s strike force after Andy Johnson was ruled out with a shoulder injury.

Former Fulham favourite Jimmy Bullard started on the bench for Hull, who initially looked the brighter of the two sides without ever threatening to give Mark Schwarzer much to do.

Duff, returning after a calf injury, soon began to exert his influence although it was Kamara who created Fulham’s first chance, setting up Zamora who contrived to clear the crossbar from the edge of the six yard box.

That was quickly followed by a low drive from Duff, which brought a smart save from Myhill at the near post in the first-half’s only other real moment of note before Zamora broke the deadline two minutes before the break.

Bullard, who joined Hull from Fulham for five million pounds only to get injured in his first match for his new club, was greeted with a cacophony of jeers when he entered the fray with just over half an hour left.

But the home side’s supporters were soon able to revert to celebrating their current players as Zamora’s pace carried him deep into the box to set up Kamara for Fulham’s second.

The Senegal international should have added to his and Fulham’s account but managed to fire wide from ten yards just before the impressive Duff departed to a standing ovation.

LONDON (AFP)

Tags: Andy Johnson, Boaz Myhill, bobby zamora, cacophony, calf injury, craven cottage, crossbar, Damien Duff, drop zone, first chance, fulham, heading home, HULL, Ireland, jeers, Jimmy Bullard, london, mark schwarzer, offside position, relegation zone, Senegal, shoulder injury, strike force, winger

Van Persie, Mannone lift Arsenal to victory

September 26, 2009

Robin van Persie shrugged off the controversy surrounding his recent contribution to the diving debate to strike the match-winner as Arsenal fended off a spirited Fulham to claim a valuable 1-0 victory on Saturday.

Van Persie’s admission that he exaggerates contact inside the penalty area in a bid to win spot-kicks caused raised eyebrows before the Gunners’ trip to Craven Cottage.

But the Holland striker showed the other side of his game when produced an outstanding second half finish that prevented his side dropping more valuable points.

The result was harsh on Fulham who had the better chances and were denied largely because of an outstanding display by Arsenal goalkeeper Vito Mannone.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger had spoken optimistically before the game about his side’s prospect of lifting the Premier League title, although that view had been countered by Danny Murphy’s claim that the current Arsenal side is a shadow of Wenger?s previous teams.

It was Fulham who were the hungrier side during the opening period with Murphy and Dickson Etuhu working hard to take control of central midfield and provide front two Andrew Johnson and Bobby Zamora with some quality service.

Arsenal’s back-four was getting stretched and, more galling for Wenger, they received little help from their team-mates further down the pitch who gave away possession much too easily, allowing Fulham to sustain early pressure.

Cesc Fabregas was uncharacteristically sloppy when he presented Clint Dempsey with the chance to shoot and the Arsenal skipper was relieved to see his Mannone smother the danger.

And the Italian produced a much more spectacular double save to keep his side on level terms in the 15th minute when he dived to tip away Johnson’s header before reacting quickly to block Dempsey’s follow-up shot from close range.

Arsenal were looking disjointed although Fabregas shot over from a good position in the 18th minute.

More wasteful though was Andrey Arshavin, back in the side after a groin injury, who managed to scoop the ball over the bar from just 12 yards out after being played in by his captain.

The better chances were coming at the other end where Mannone again did well to divert Zoltan Gera’s 36th minute cross-shot after the Hungarian had been played in by Johnson’s clever flick.

Arsenal had been second best throughout the first half and the pattern looked set to continue after the break when Zamora quickly fired in a 20-yard effort that flew narrowly wide of Mannone’s left hand post.

But while Wenger’s side may still be a work in progress, the one thing they do not lack is quality and the ability to change the course of a game in an instant – and that is exactly what happened when van Persie fired them ahead in the 52nd minute.

There was no sign of danger when Alex Song collected Paul Konchesky’s scuffed clearance inside his own half, but the midfielder moved the ball on to Fabregas who picked out Van Persie with a perfectly weighted chip.

Under pressure from Aaron Hughes, the Dutchman’s first touch had to be perfect. It was, and so was his finish that flew low across Fulham keeper Mark Schwarzer and inside the far post.

Fulham responded well and Johnson drew another excellent save out of Mannone when he met Zamora’s cross with a flicked header.

And the keeper’s efforts were matched by two excellent blocks from his defenders, the first by Bacary Sagna to deflect Dempsey’s shot against the post moments before William Gallas dived in to halt Zamora’s drive.

LONDON (AFP)

Tags: Aaron Hughes, Alex Song, andrew johnson, bobby zamora, captain. The, central midfield, Clint Dempsey, close range, controversy, craven cottage, Danny Murphy, Dickson Etuhu, eyebrows, fulham, groin injury, gunners, Holland, hungrier side, Johnson, london, mark schwarzer, paul konchesky, possession, premier league, quality service, robin van persie, skipper, striker, team mates, Van Persie, Vito Mannone, William Gallas, zoltan gera

Villa recover from Euro exit with Fulham win

August 31, 2009

Aston Villa bounced back from their midweek Europa League exit by cruising to a 2-0 victory over Fulham on Sunday.

Martin O’Neill’s team were eliminated from Europe’s second tier competition by Rapid Vienna on away goals, but they showed no signs of a hangover at Villa Park.

They took the lead through John Pantsil’s early own goal and Gabriel Agbonlahor smashed in a superb second after the break to build on last week’s surprise 3-1 win at Liverpool.

Unlike Villa, Fulham did make it into the group stages of the Europa League, but Roy Hodgson’s team looked short of energy after a long journey home from playing Russia’s Amkar Perm.

O’Neill handed a debut to central defender Ciaran Clark in place of the injured Curtis Davies, but Stephen Warnock had to be content with a place among the substitutes after his move from Blackburn.

Villa needed only three minutes to break the deadlock but they were given a helping hand by their former defender Aaron Hughes and Fulham keeper Mark Schwarzer.

Hughes sent a careless back pass towards Schwarzer who could only slice the ball out of play for a corner.

Ashley Young’s corner was flicked on by Carlos Cuellar and Pantsil headed the ball into his own net at the near post under pressure from Agbonlahor.

Without first choice strikers Andy Johnson and Bobby Zamora as well as influential midfielder Danny Murphy, Fulham found it impossible to recover from that early setback.

Villa midfielder Steve Sidwell sent a curling effort just over after Agbonlahor had turned a dangerous ball from Nicky Shorey into his path.

Clark missed a good chance to mark his debut with a goal after 24 minutes. The England Under-19 international was unmarked when he got on the end of a Young corner but sent his header over the bar.

Schwarzer needed a fitness test before the start of the second half and the Australian seemed to have a problem with his left thigh.

The Cottagers threatened an equaliser when Clint Dempsey was only just too high with a 25 yard free-kick.

But Agbonlahor’s first goal of the campaign put Villa in complete control after 59 minutes.

James Milner played the ball inside to the England striker who advanced unchecked before beating Schwarzer with a fierce 20 yard drive that secured Villa’s first back to back league wins since January.

BIRMINGHAM (AFP)