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Aston Villa 2-0 Fulham
Match Reports, 17:58, August 30, 2009 ,
John Pantsil's own goal and Gabriel Agbonlahor secured Aston Villa a comfortable 2-0 win against Fulham at Villa Park.
Villa went in front in the opening exchanges and never looked in any danger of not winning their second successive Premier League encounter as Fulham appeared jaded from their midweek Europa League trip to Russia. The absence of injured first-choice hitmen Andrew Johnson and Bobby Zamora left Roy Hodgson's men toothless in attack as they failed to test Villa keeper Brad Friedel all game.
Villa had the ideal start when they took the lead on three minutes when Pantsil could only divert Ashley Young's driven corner from the left past his own keeper Mark Schwarzer after Carlos Cuellar flicked it goalwards with his head.
There was a chance to make it two on seven minutes when Agbonlahor and Brede Hangeland battled for the ball just inside the Fulham box and it ran free to Steve Sidwell who hammered his effort over the crossbar.
Fulham's best chance of the first half came on 15 minutes when Damien Duff's free kick from near the right-hand corner flag was headed over by Clint Dempsey from six yards out.
Dickson Etuhu almost conceded a second own goal when he headed a Young free-kick from the left flank over his own bar.
Villa enjoyed plenty of possession as the half wore on but could not find a way through the Cottagers backline to grab a second.
The second half followed a similar pattern and it was over as a contest on 59 minutes when Agbonlahor was allowed to run at goal by Aaron Hughes before he unleashed a fierce drive past Schwarzer to seal the points for Martin O'Neill's men.