Sessegnon sinks lacklustre Aston Villa to keep Fulham’s European hopes alive

When Unai Emery declared the “Premier League is the priority” despite a looming Europa League semi-final, he could not have envisaged the lifeless display his Aston Villa team would produce at Craven Cottage.

Perhaps his players disagree with their manager’s preference for domestic affairs, or maybe the London spring sunshine proved too much of a distraction from footballing matters. Either way, Villa departed Craven Cottage on Saturday lunchtime with an emptiness fully deserving of their minimal endeavours, having managed just one shot on target all match.

It is not as though Fulham were brilliant; few would argue Marco Silva’s side possess such power to blow away opposition teams. But the hosts did what was required, with Ryan Sessegnon notching the solitary goal of a largely forgettable game. Despite patchy form, Fulham are now just two points off sixth place and firmly in the hunt for European qualification.

Before this fixture, Silva had admitted his goal-shy team needed “some inspiration and creativity” in light of their recent scoring troubles, having failed to find the net in five of their previous six matches. They had Villa to thank for aiding their cause here.

As soon as the tenth minute, after Villa had been picked apart for the umpteenth occasion, Emi Martínez stood with ball in hand and berated anyone in claret and blue who would listen.

A frustrated Unai Emery on the Craven Cottage touchline. Photograph: Matthew Childs/Action Images/Reuters

Fortunately for the languid visitors, their hosts frequently lacked the potency to offer proper threat, largely resembling a platoon hurling toothpicks whenever in sight of goal.

But, with two minutes remaining before half-time, they successfully navigated a route to goal. Sasa Lukic’s initial header was parried by Martínez, but only as far as Sessegnon, who momentarily composed himself before drilling through Ezra Konsa’s legs on the goal line.

If Villa fans were hoping a half-time rollicking might spark some life into their side, they were quickly mistaken. A Lucas Digne mistake allowed Harry Wilson to bear down on Martínez untroubled, but he dawdled and dragged his shot wide when a goal looked the most likely scenario.

As Emery’s anger increased, so did the urgency of his pacing around the technical area. The points cushion beneath Villa is surely too great to see them mess up Champions League qualification for a second successive season, but the manager has made it abundantly clear that he wants his team to finish as high as third in the table for the first time since the 1992/93 campaign. They will have to perform rather better than this if they are to do so.