Aston Villa dream of Europe after going fifth in Premier League, with 1-0 win over Fulham

LONDON – Aston Villa manager Unai Emery is beginning to dream of European football after a remarkable turnaround of his side’s fortunes in just his first season in charge.

Defender Tyrone Mings scored a brilliant header from a set piece as Villa beat Fulham 1-0 at Villa Park on Tuesday to lift them to fifth in the Premier League table, a step closer to ensuring that the team play in Europe next season.

“We are in the Europa (League) position. It is still difficult to achieve but, after this win, we are just ahead of trying to keep being with the option to get there,” said Emery, who has won the Europa League four times as coach of Sevilla and Villarreal.

“There’s still Liverpool and Tottenham and Brighton (to come) and we are going to fight with them but, with each match we are winning, it is giving us confidence and chance to get there.”

Villa are on 54 points after 33 games, one ahead of Tottenham Hotspur and five behind fourth-placed Manchester United.

Fulham, whose European dreams were derailed by a run of four defeats in March and April, have 45 points.

The away side suffered a blow when midfielder Willian was injured in the warm-up, with Manor Solomon taking his place.

Marco Silva’s men might have had an early chance but Villa put them under tremendous pressure in the opening 15 minutes, and Villa had a good shout for a penalty turned down when Ollie Watkins appeared to be tripped in the box.

Fulham were forced into another change when Harry Wilson limped off after 17 minutes, as things went from bad to worse.

Villa took the lead in the 21st minute, when Mings met John McGinn’s corner at the near post with a superb glancing header that flashed across the goal and into the net for his first goal of the season.

Fulham found their feet in the second half but, once again, their attack failed to fire and, despite enjoying more possession, they did little to threaten Emiliano Martinez in the Villa goal.

The home side are on a remarkable run since Emery took over in November, and Tuesday’s win marked their fifth straight home win without conceding a goal as their push for Europe continues.

“Definitely, when we have a plan and at the warm-up, Willian felt something in his hamstring and then the situation with Harry was not the best start for us,” Fulham boss Silva told BT Sport.

“But, of course, those cannot be excuses, our first half was not how we should have played.

“We were not very aggressive on the ball, we didn’t try to create the chances like we usually do. Then we conceded a sloppy goal... We lost the game because of the first half, it was not good enough.” REUTERS, AFP