Sessegnons goal decisive in Fulhams narrow victory over Aston Villa

Fulham began with promise, and a sharper pass from Emile Smith Rowe might have let Raul Jimenez score early in the second minute, as the away defence sought an offside call in vain.

The Cottagers had not managed a single shot on target in their previous match versus Brentford, yet both Jimenez and Sasa Lukic challenged Emiliano Martinez within the opening 15 minutes, though without drawing his finest saves as the FIFA World Cup victor.

Aston Villa built momentum later in the half, with Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins sending shots just wide of the upright.

Yet they fell behind right before the interval due to Sessegnon, as Martinez could merely deflect Lukics header into the full backs path, allowing him to slot it home calmly amid the throng.

Harry Wilson ought to have extended Fulhams advantage early in the second period after receiving a loose ball behind Villas defence, but he pulled his shot astray, while Jimenez called for the ball.

Watkins soon had an opportunity to equalise just shy of the hour, cleverly taking a John McGinn pass, but the sharp forward unleashed an unusually erratic attempt. It nearly ended there when Timothy Castagne scored from a tidy Lukic corner, but Emerys team gained a reprieve as referees disallowed it for a foul on the keeper.

Ultimately, this slim margin held firm against the visitors, with Tammy Abraham missing the final clear opening and failing to reprise his substitute heroics.

Villa stay poised for a UEFA Champions League spot, needing six more points to seal it outright, depending on other outcomes. Fulham now trail seventh place by one point, aiming for European action since the 2011/12 season.