Aston Villa 2-1 Fulham

Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill was banished from the dug-out after a verbal blast at referee Steve Bennett and then saw substitute Shaun Maloney snatch an injury-time winner for a 2-1 success against 10-man Fulham at Villa Park.

O'Neill watched the second 45 minutes from the press box after berating Bennett as he left the pitch at half-time.

Ashley Young's shot, deflected off Zat Knight, cancelled out Fulham midfielder Clint Dempsey's first-half effort and, after Chris Baird had been sent off with 20 minutes remaining, Maloney struck in the dying seconds.

O'Neill was hugged by fans at the final whistle as Villa grabbed their first win of the campaign after spurning a host of chances.

Young, in particular, was a constant threat and demonstrated why O'Neill had paid Watford £8million for him in January as Villa camped in the Fulham half after the break.

But they looked like paying for lacking the necessary finishing power in the danger area until Maloney settled the issue.

It means Fulham are still searching for their first away win since September.

Steven Davis had an early opportunity to make his mark against his former employers after seizing on a square pass from Simon Davies but, as he lined up a left-footed drive, he was on the receiving end of an excellent tackle from Mellberg.

Baird was yellow-carded for the first time after five minutes for clipping Young when in full flight.

But 60 seconds later the Cottagers stunned Villa by taking the lead through Dempsey.

Diomansy Kamara's pass took a deflection off a Villa player into the path of the midfielder, whose rising left-footed drive beat Scott Carson via the underside of the crossbar.

Young was soon tormenting Fulham and he screwed a right-footed drive just past the post.

Carew had his first clear sight of goal following a pass from Young, but the former Lyon player was not sharp enough and Paul Konchesky was able to make ground and make the tackle before he could shoot.

Fulham looked to have strong claims for a penalty in the 31st minute when a half volley from Kamara at close range appeared to be handled by Martin Laursen, but referee Bennett waved play on.

Carew had another opportunity after the ball cannoned off Konchesky into his path, but the ex-West Ham player got back quickly to put him off and the eventual low shot was easily dealt with by Keller.

Gabriel Agbonlahor had a golden chance after 35 minutes from a well measured pass from Nigel Reo-Coker. The England Under-21 player took the ball confidently enough in his stride but slipped his shot the wrong side of the post.

Wilfred Bouma became the first Villa player to be yellow-carded after 40 minutes for bringing down Dempsey.

In first-half injury-time Carew thudded a header against the post from a Young corner.

O'Neill had been involved in an angry exchange with referee Bennett when he left the field at half-time - and he took up a place in the press box for the second period after being banished from the dug-out.

Villa brought on Luke Moore for Petrov for the second 45 minutes and within five minutes the home side were back on level terms.

Reo-Coker's pass found the impressive Young in space on the left flank and he cut into the area before beating Keller with a cross-shot which took a deflection off Zat Knight into the far corner of the net.

That came a minute before Kamara had been close to doubling Fulham's lead with a low curling shot which defeated the dive of Carson but rebounded off a post to safety.

Villa were now in the ascendancy and Kelley turned a powerful shot on the turn from Moore around the post.

Carew continued to spurn decent chances, heading wide from a Barry centre and then heading just over from a Young cross.

Fulham were forced into a defensive substitution as Knight limped out of the action to be replaced by Ian Pearce.

Then the visitors were reduced to 10 men with 20 minutes remaining as Baird picked up a second yellow card for a challenge on Young just outside the box.

Dempsey almost won the game for Fulham in a rare attack, but Carson did well to keep out his close-range header - and then came Maloney's late winner.

Source: Soccernet.com