Fulham won the game at the death with a Jimmy Bullard free-kick after Villa had surrendered a one goal lead.

Aaron Hughes put through his own net to give Villa the lead but Simon Davies responded quickly for Fulham after an expert ball in from Bullard.

The former Wigan midfielder earned all three points for the home side three minutes from time with a 25 yard free-kick that flew past Carson.

Bullard saw a powerful free-kick from 20 yards fly off Davies and out for a corner on three minutes.

Davies was unlucky at the other end two minutes later but he failed to connect with Maloney's intelligent corner.

Dempey's long-range effort was well gathered by Carson on eight as Fulham looked to impose themselves on the game.

Maloney broke on 11 after a gift of a pass from Murphy. The Scot released Agbonlahor but the striker's cross was well gathered by Niemi.

Bouma did brilliantly to clear off the line from Dempsey's bullet header on 13.

Barry nearly created an opening for himself on 16 as he managed to get hold of the ball after Maloney had fallen but the Fulha defence managed to clear to safety.

Bouma produced some great defending on 29 to deny Nevland a header on goal.

Agbonlahor chased a lost cause on 30 and managed to get a shot away but it went out before Niemi got his fingertips to it,

Maloney's final shot after a jinking run past Baird came to nothing as he sailed his 15 yard shot over the bar on 33.

Maloney fired another shot over the bar on 37 after good build-up play from Petrov and Barry.

Carew should have opened the scoring on 40 after a wonderdul delivery from Maloney but the Norwegian just failed to make contact.

Harewood made his entrance at half-time as he came on for Agbonlahor, who went off at the end of the first half with a hamstring injury.

Dempsey's header from close range flew wide on 54 but the American really should have hit the target.

Carew then saw a 15 yarder sail over the bar a minute later.

Villa exerted some serious pressure on 62 as Maloney's pinpoint corner was well cleared. The ball came back to Maloney but his shot was well cleared again.

Carew showed great skill to avoid two Fulham challenges but his chipped effort went wide on 66.

Harewood's turn and shot on 67 was weak and went straight at Niemi.

Former Villa man Hughes scored an own-goal on 69 as he inexplicably put through his own net after Mellberg's flick from a Maloney corner.

McBride replaced Nevland on 70 as Fulham looked to get back into the game.

Laursen should have doubled the advantage a minute later but blasted over the bar from close range from a Maloney corner.

Bullard produced a bit of magic on 73 with a cracking ball to Davies who fired past the helpless Carson to level the scores.

Maloney's curling free-kick from the left was flying goalwards on 76 but Niemi managed to get his hand to the ball and clear.

Hangeland rifled in a shot from eight yards out and Carson saw it late but managed to collect on 78.

Dempsey was replaced by Kamara on 80 as the former Albion man looked to make a late impact.

Mellberg's toe poke was well cleared by the home defence on 85 as Villa looked to get the winner.

Bullard fired past Carson with a super free-kick on 87 after Davies had committed a foul on Kamara.

Gardner replaced Bouma on 88 and Osbourne came on for Davies on 90.

Fulham: Niemi; Konchesky, Nevland (McBride, 70), Hughes, Hangeland; Bullard, Davies BOOKED, Andreasen, Murphy, Baird; Dempsey (Kamara, 80). Subs: Keller, Volz, Bocanegra, Kamara, McBride.

VILLA: Carson; Mellberg, Davies BOOKED (Osbourne, 90), Laursen, Bouma BOOKED (Gardner, 88); Petrov, Reo-Coker, Barry, Maloney; Agbonlahor (Harewood, HT), Carew. Subs: Taylor, Harewood, Knight, Gardner, Osbourne.

Attendance: 24,760

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