Aston Villa Fight Back to End Winless Run with Convincing Victory over Fulham

Published: 29 September ‘2025. The English Chronicle Desk

Aston Villa breathed new life into their season with a much-needed 3-1 victory over Fulham at Villa Park, a result that not only ended their five-game winless streak but also provided relief for manager Unai Emery and a fanbase that had grown restless with the team’s recent performances. The afternoon was one of resilience and redemption, headlined by Ollie Watkins ending his nine-match goal drought and Emi Buendia marking his return to the scoresheet after more than a year.

For Fulham, the game had begun in the best possible fashion. Raul Jimenez stunned the home crowd inside three minutes with a well-placed header that put the Cottagers ahead. The Mexican forward, whose experience remains vital to Marco Silva’s side, capitalised on Villa’s slow start, only to see his evening end prematurely when he was forced off with an injury shortly after giving his team the lead. Despite their early momentum, Fulham’s fortunes declined dramatically as the game wore on.

Villa, who looked tentative and low on confidence during much of the first half, gradually found their rhythm. Watkins, who had endured his joint-longest barren run in a Villa shirt, seized on a defensive lapse from the visitors to level the contest. Lucas Digne’s long ball unsettled the Fulham backline, and Watkins showed composure in front of goal to score what could prove to be a turning point in both his own season and his club’s. His relief was palpable, and the goal lifted the mood inside Villa Park as the hosts began to grow into the contest.

Unai Emery’s men emerged from the break with renewed energy, and within a whirlwind two-minute spell, they effectively decided the outcome. First, captain John McGinn rifled home to complete the turnaround, displaying both leadership and opportunism at a time when Villa needed it most. Almost immediately afterwards, substitute Emi Buendia etched his name onto the scoresheet, scoring his first goal for the club in over a year. The Argentine midfielder’s strike not only widened the gap but also highlighted the importance of squad depth, as Emery’s changes paid off at a crucial juncture.

From that point, Villa assumed control of proceedings, even if they were far from flawless. Fulham did have chances to claw their way back, most notably when Ezri Konsa was forced to clear Sasa Lukic’s effort off the line. But Silva’s side, who have now managed just one victory in their last 22 league visits to Villa Park, lacked the cutting edge needed to punish a Villa team that had looked vulnerable earlier in the match. Their frustrations were compounded by refereeing decisions, with claims for a penalty waved away when Emi Martinez clattered into Josh King in the first half, while another appeal was denied following a handball incident involving Matty Cash.

While Fulham could point to those moments as turning points, the reality was that they had only themselves to blame for letting the match slip away. Their defending, particularly around Watkins’ equaliser, was careless, and their response to conceding was sluggish. What had begun as a promising performance quickly unravelled, leaving Silva with much to ponder as his team faces a challenging run of fixtures in the weeks ahead.

For Villa, however, the victory felt like more than just three points. It was a statement of intent and a reminder of their ambitions, especially as they balance domestic challenges with the demands of European competition. Watkins’ return to goalscoring form is especially significant given his importance to Villa’s attack and the absence of consistent backup options. The forward, who scored 16 league goals last season, will be relied upon heavily once again if Villa are to push for a top-six finish and make progress in Europe.

Unai Emery will have been pleased with the resilience his players showed after falling behind, even if the overall performance lacked the sparkle associated with his best sides. The win follows a narrow Europa League triumph over Bologna, and the Spaniard will hope this result acts as a springboard ahead of Thursday’s trip to Feyenoord. Domestically, the upcoming fixture against Burnley offers a chance to build momentum, while the horizon looks considerably brighter than it did just a week ago.

Fulham, meanwhile, will be left ruing what might have been. After starting the season positively, this defeat served as a stark reminder of their limitations, particularly their struggles to maintain intensity over 90 minutes. With matches against Bournemouth and Arsenal looming, Marco Silva’s men will need to rediscover their resolve quickly to avoid slipping into familiar patterns of inconsistency.

Ultimately, Villa’s comeback underlined the fine margins of the Premier League. Fulham had the chance to bury a fragile Villa side in the first half but failed to do so, and once Watkins found the net, the momentum shifted irrevocably. The home crowd, initially anxious, left Villa Park with smiles on their faces, reassured that their side remains capable of turning adversity into opportunity. For Emery and his players, the task now is to build on this victory and ensure it marks the start of a sustained upturn rather than another false dawn.