Aston Villa cemented their position in the Premier League’s top four with a convincing 3-1 victory over Fulham at Craven Cottage.
The win, which saw Villa leapfrog Chelsea ahead of their clash with Liverpool, highlighted the team’s growing momentum under Unai Emery.
They have now won five of their eight league games (D2, L1). The Villains have also started their UEFA Champions League campaign with two wins from two.
Despite conceding an early goal to Raul Jimenez, Villa quickly responded through Morgan Rogers, who continues to impress this season
A crucial moment in the match came when Emiliano Martinez saved a penalty from Andreas Pereira, showcasing his world-class goalkeeping abilities.
“That’s why he’s the best,” Rogers said of Martinez (the BBC). “That’s what he does. If it goes 2-1, anything can happen in the game.”
The Argentine shot-stopper has consistently delivered standout performances, earning praise from former Villa star Thomas Hitzlsperger, who recently hailed him as the best goalkeeper in the world after his impressive outing against Bayern in the UCL.
Martinez had made some stunning saves to keep out Michael Olise, Serge Gnabry, and Harry Kane. The former Arsenal shot-stopper has been sensational, proving to be a real last line of defence for the Villains.
Villa’s second-half dominance versus Fulham was evident as Ollie Watkins headed home their second goal, and Issa Diop scored an own goal to seal the win. The victory further underlined Watkins’ resurgence after a slow start to the season.
While the match ended with a flurry of red cards, Villa’s focus now shifts to their upcoming Champions League fixture against Bologna on Tuesday before they welcome Bournemouth to Villa Park over the weekend.
Villa will continue looking over their shoulders for Chelsea, although it is more likely the Blues get spanked at Anfield. Tottenham Hotspur are also picking up form, and like last season, they will give Villa a run for fourth place.
